One of the most famous of Christ’s parables in Scripture is the story of the prodigal son. A father had two sons, one older son who compliantly served his father, doing all in his bidding. The younger chafed against his father’s rules and wanted to live life, doing his own thing. You can read the whole story in Luke 15:11-32

Growing up, I was the younger daughter in birth order but the older, obedient daughter at heart. And because I didn’t have a dramatic conversion from horrible worldly vices to saving faith, I sometimes wished I had. I was obedient on the outside, but at times a prodigal on the inside.

The prodigal son was a rebel. He disrespected his father’s authority and decided his own will and way were best. At a heart level, we are no different. Every one of us has at one time or another rebelled against what God has for us.

The older brother was arrogant. His pride in his own accomplishments made him judgmental and bitter against his father for showing mercy to his less deserving brother. Yet in reality, his sin was just as damning. We’re not as great as we think we are and our own pride keeps us from seeing that truth.

Scripture tells us that rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft, and that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. In the end, the prodigal son received grace and mercy because he recognized his sin and humbled himself in his father’s sight. The older brother didn’t.

I’ve been thinking lately that every one of us is both the prodigal son and the older brother at a heart level. We are all prone to rebellion and pride. Who can escape either? So then the lessons from the parable applies to each of us in a multitude of ways.

I don’t like pride or rebellion, but I struggle with both. How often have I told God my way is better than His? How many times do I think more highly of myself than I ought to?

The prodigal son’s example of repentance and the way his father graciously forgave him touches me most. I don’t want to be either brother, but if I had to choose, I’d be the one who returned, recognizing how wrong he was…and became a new person, rather than a prodigal at heart.