THAT FARAWAY LOOK
By Doug Pierce
“And he answering said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends.’” Luke 15:29
THAT FARAWAY LOOK
I’m sure you recognized our verse for today. It’s from the familiar account of the prodigal son. It’s the response made by the older brother to his dad when his little runaway brother finally came home. Most read the story of the prodigal son and miss the lessons they could learn from his older brother’s attitude about little brother’s return. He was very upset about the homecoming party his dad had thrown. This elder brother was what we would have considered a model worker, and yet he did not know his father’s heart. He did not understand what motivated his father. Just before his younger brother came home, I could almost hear him as he thought to himself, “You know, I don’t understand what’s wrong with my dad. We’ve never had finer crops. Look at the cattle, how sleek and fat they are. Look at the barns, they’re freshly painted, look how large and wonderful they are and they’re all filled with hay. Look at all the workers we have coming and going. Everything looks so good. I don’t know what’s wrong with my father. My father just seems to sit there. He never seems to be completely satisfied, no matter how wonderful the farm is, no matter how beautiful everything is. My father seems to have that faraway look in his eyes. I don’t know what’s wrong with my father!”
THE AVERAGE CHURCH MEMBER
This elder brother in the story of the prodigal son is a picture of the average church member and many pastors of churches today. Most have no idea what concerns God most and what weighs continuously upon His heart. Most in the church mistakenly think our heavenly Father’s main concern is how beautiful the church building might be . . . how full the collection plates are . . .how eloquent the sermon is on a given Sunday…how wonderful the music and singing might be . . . or, how many are in attendance each week. And, while all of these things are great and important, they are not what is most important to Him. They are not where His main concern lies. The heart of the Father is revealed in this wonderful story. Do you know what it is? Do you know what concerns Him most?
TOO FOCUSSED ON THE FARM
I’ll tell you what was wrong with the father in this story. He had a broken heart over a son that was away from home! His heart wasn’t on the farm but his faraway son! And God, our Father, is reminding the church through this story His main concern today is the many who are lost and away from Him…the countless souls that are headed to hell unless they turn and run to His outstretched arms! The heart of the Father is upon those who are lost. And what concerns the Father most should be our greatest concern. But Jesus said, “The harvest truly IS plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Mat. 9:37-38).
There are countless people around us ready to be saved, but sadly few in the church are reaching out to them, sharing their faith with them, or inviting them to church! Like the older brother, we have become too focused on the farm, and have forgotten those who are far away from the Lord! Yes, as Jesus said, we should pray for laborers to go out and reach the harvest of lost souls around us, but not before we’re willing to pray. “Lord, here am I, send me!”
Stop and take that faraway look today! Who do you know who was once in church and serving the Lord but today they’re away from the Lord and the church family? Who has the Lord laid upon your heart lately that you need to invite to worship this Sunday?
Think it over . . .
Doug Pierce is a Church planter and a pastor. In 2003 he started, and continues to pastor First Independent Methodist Church in Madison, Mississippi. His #1 priority is to glorify God in all aspects of ministry. He does this through teaching his congregation to Love God, Love One Another, and Love Others to God. Prayer, outreach, and church growth through evangelism are vital parts of his ministry. He and his wife Suzanne live in Madison, Mississippi where they also enjoy their children and grandchildren.
Feature Photo by Wallpaper Cave
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