Sunday: More Valuable Than You Can Imagine
Daily Lesson for Sunday 12th of January 2025
As we saw in an earlier lesson, there is no one—even the worst sinner or worst evildoer—whom God does not love. And because God values people more than we could possibly imagine, He is displeased by sin because He loves us and knows what sin does to us, as well.
Read Luke 15:11-32. What does the parable of the prodigal son reveal about God’s compassion and love? What warning does it provide for those who, like the other son, remained home?
Image © Pacific Press at Goodsalt.com
In this story that Jesus tells, the man’s son requested his inheritance early, effectively rejecting his father and his father’s household. The prodigal son then goes on to squander his inheritance and is reduced to poverty and hunger, envying pigs that eat from a trough. Realizing that the servants in his father’s house have more than enough food, he decides to return home in hopes of becoming a servant.
What follows is powerful. Some fathers would turn such a son away upon his return. “You took your inheritance and cut yourself off from my house. You no longer have a home here.” That would be a logical, even reasonable, attitude, would it not? In the eyes of some human parents, the son had gone too far to be accepted back home, especially as a son.
But, in the parable, the father (representing God Himself) does not respond in any of these ways. Rather, “ ‘when [the prodigal son] was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him’ ” (Luke 15:20, NKJV). Even though it was considered less than dignified in such times for the master of the house to run out to meet someone, the father in his great compassion ran out to meet his son and, more astonishingly, restored him to his household, even throwing a celebration in his behalf, signifying the great compassion of God for each wayward person and the delight He takes in even a single person returning home. What a picture of God!
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Interesting is the reaction of the other son. Why was this reaction such a human reaction, based at least in part on fairness, and so understandable, as well? What, however, does his part of the story teach us about how human concepts of fairness don’t capture the depth of the gospel or of God’s love for us? |
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The story of the prodigal son is one that is filled with meaning about the value God places on us and I am sure that it will generate many meaningful comments. I want to take a little avian step (why is that not a surprise) sideways and mention another object lesson Jesus used to express his perception of our value.
More valuable than sparrows? They are so common and if one goes missing, so what? The contrast is so big that it is almost ludicrous. Yet, God knows each one, and if one of them falls to the ground, he notices it. (Matt 10: 29)
And if we wind forward to 2025, we find that there is a worldwide decline in the sparrow population. In my local area I know where I can find one small flock of about a dozen sparrows. While we may be annoyed at their invasive behaviour and their nest-building when they get into houses, the loss of sparrows from our habitat would leave a gap in our environment (Except in Western Australia - but that is another story)
Why am I telling you this? If God cares for us and loves us more than many sparrows, then maybe one of the ways we can respond to that love is by caring for our environment. We are selfish if we talk about and rejoice in God's love for us and do not pass it on to others and our environment and natural surroundings.
And now I will get back to the story of the Prodigal Son. The other son, also the recipient of the father's love, did not want to share that love with the returning son. He thought he held the title deeds on the father's love and had the right to say who should receive it. I will leave the reader to work out who Jesus was referring to in the second son.
Maurice, many years ago, when my wife was the assistant pathfinder director, I had the privilege of going to many camporee's, as her husband. We got to know a lady wife of a retired missionary. Well, she was also the mother of our pathfinder director. Anyway here is my brush with nature and our avian friends. This grandmother would be standing next to the campfire earily on the morning with my self and one or two of our early riser pathfinders warming our hands. She would say did you hear that yes grandma would than tell us the name of the avian friend we could not even see. Now that was defiantly talent in the study of ornithology.
The prodigal son had talent until he ran out of money and came home. His father put him back to work with the talents he had taught him.
"The special gifts of the Spirit are not the only talents represented in the parable. It includes all gifts and endowments, whether original or acquired, natural or spiritual. All are to be employed in Christ's service. In becoming His disciples, we surrender ourselves to Him with all that we are and have. These gifts He returns to us purified and ennobled, to be used for His glory in blessing our fellow men." Christ Object Lessons, 328.2
I like the last sentence. It makes surender worthwhile. Christ does not want us to necessarily be extraordinary talented. He uses what talents given us. If we are willing to be made willing.
OK, and now I have some issues about the parable of "The Prodigal Son." 1. How do we tell this story to our children without mentioning how the father placed "a ring" on the returning sons' finger without questioning why we push "No using of jewelry or even the wedding band"? 2. How do we tell it without telling about "The Fatted Calf" without questioning why we push the "No eating of even clean meats" as if all there is to good health is to just not eat meat?
I think that we need to present the story in it's cultural setting to bridge the cultural gap. In today's vegan society, the family credit card would be given to the Son, and the fatted soybean would be offered up for a banquet. 🤔😉😊
First of all, I agree with Tim. But then, Pete, maybe we should stop "pushing" and start inviting our young people to a higher standard, keeping in mind that we can't invite somebody to a place where we are not.
Maybe we help our young people recognize their value as sons and daughters of the King of the Universe. They are royal children of a King who values the qualities of a beautiful character far above the metal that will pave the streets of the New Jerusalem.
Maybe we should invite them to enjoy the abundant health that comes from following God's laws of health that help us choose food as close to grown as possible. After all He is the best Designer of great food, rather than the chemists and lab technicians who dream up counterfeits dreamed up in a lab. And He has better things in mind for us than eating meat from dead animals. (John 10:10)
We can't hope to persuade our young people to a better standard if we see it as a burden rather than a delight to follow a way of life that is full of abundant joy. (John 15:11; John 16:24)
(As for the "fatted calf" - it was raised outdoors on clean grass under a sunlit sky, not fattened in a cattle yard with the aid of hormones and kept alive by shots of anti-biotics. The world and our environment has sadly changed a lot since Christ's time!)
Pete, When I was in state primary school in New Zealand, I read a story in the government-provided reading journal that mentioned that the children ate "Milk-Coffee" biscuits. The story must have been a good one because it was reprinted in the church's children's paper of the time, "Our Little Friend." But, there was an editorial difference. The "Milk-Coffee" had been changed to "Milk-Arrowroot." Why? Adventist cultural sensitivity, perhaps? I have to admit that in my primary-student mind, I thought that my church had lied to me.
I am much older now, but it bothers me when I see efforts being made to adjust facts to fit the Seventh-day Adventist story. The fact that the primary school story was probably a good one has been forgotten, but the editorial adjustment has remained with me as a reminder. If they killed the fatted calf, accept the story as is. It's not an invitation to be a carnivore.
The son who stayed at home was also lost. We can be lost while in the church (home), he was unforgiving, proud, and selfish. He obeyed out of obligation. The story of the Prodigal son is packed with lessons and we many times only focus on the son who left.
All praises to the Lord Most High. Where can I go but to the Father. It's also a blessing to inherit the Father's love for others.
The Bible is explicitly loud and clear that mankind is the most valuable of all God’s creation. First and foremost, we were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Secondly, we were given dominion over God’s creation (Psalm 8:4-8). Thirdly, God Himself was intimately involved in bringing us into existence (Genesis 2:7). Fourthly, we are at the center of God’s care (Matthew 6:26, Matthew 10:29-31). Fifthly, we are the beneficiaries of God’s ultimate love and salvation (John 3:16). The Bible also reminds us that we are God’s masterpiece, created for a purpose and value (Ephesians 2:10).
Unfortunately, and sadly, circumstances at times make many feel that they are baseless, worthless, valueless, and good for nothing. This is the true condition of many people in the world today. Poverty has reduced the most valuable of God’s possessions to believe their existence is a terrible accident. Struggles, hardships, fear, and broken relationships take “value” away from life. There is a desire in every human being to have a “good” life free from poverty, disease, persecution, slavery, and fear. God’s original intent was for mankind to experience happiness, joy, and peace (Genesis 1:28, Genesis 2:8-9, Psalm 16:11, Revelation 21:4). A casual survey through the world’s media today, one will quickly catch a glimpse of millions who feel completely dejected from the love of God. Is there any value in a hopeless lot? Value is diminished in the face of hopelessness!
Who can possibly console the groaning masses from their sense of valuelessness and hopelessness? Can the United Nations (UN) do it? Can global economic prosperity do it? Can the “Remnant Church” do it? The Word of God (Bible) gives the answer of the One who has the ultimate power and authority to comfort the world from its sense of valuelessness and hopelessness. God (in Jesus Christ) is the only One who can bring hope, healing, and restoration to a broken world.
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory” – Isaiah 63:1-3 - NLT
While it speaks to the Father's love, it also speaks to His respect for human choices. If His child leaves in an attitude of rebellion, He will not chase after him or compel him to stay. He waits hopefully for his return. It is truly the remembrance of the Father's love that draws the prodigal back home.
I love the memory verse. Can any one say it from memory yet?
Well, I do know the reaction of the other son. It was not good. I do believe the other son was quite jealous. What ever the prodigal son's brother did or felt, the banquet carried on. That is how our Heavenly Father treats us.
Here is what Ellen White say's about God's love found in parables.
"The beautiful parable of the lost sheep Christ repeated. And He carried its lesson still farther, as He told of the lost piece of silver and the prodigal son. The force of these lessons the disciples could not then fully appreciate; but after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as they saw the ingathering of the Gentiles and the envious anger of the Jews, they better understood the lesson of the prodigal son, and could enter into the joy of Christ's words, "It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad;" "for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found."" Luke 15:32, Luke 15:24. The Desire of Ages page 495.4
Yes Your Love Oh God, how great and marvelous are You, Dear Father.
The parable of the "Prodigal Son," could just as easily been titled the "Prodigal Father" because of the way that the Father lavished his love upon his sons, even the rebellious one. I once preached a sermon titled, The Prodigal Father, based upon that lavish love of the Father.
Both sons had issues, one was just more bold. One had the heart of a Pharisee, the other, eventually, the heart of the Publican. When the wayward son came to his senses and returned home determined to settle for being another household servant, the Father was having none of it. He called for a celebration, and even put on his now repentent son, his own robe, sandals, and even gave him a new credit card (a scary thought). The other son was not pleased that his wasteful and wayward brother was being restored to sonship in the family.
How do we receive the "prodigals" when they return to our churches? Do we snub them or do we welcome them with open arms.
The truth be told we are all at one time or another "prodigals." Some just have never been bold enough to leave the comforts of "home". Where do we find ourselves in the story?
Luke 15:17 reminds us of the joy in heaven of just one sinner that repents. Are we part of the celebration, or are we sulking because we feel they don't deserve to be welcomed home? Which "prodigal" are we?
What actually is meant by "the inheritance" in the story ???
Most comment I came across termed it as the physical inheritance......ie, money.
Help me.
The explanation is that the man had two sons who would in normal circumatances inherit his estate. The younger son did not want to wait for his father to die in order to get it. So he asked for his part of the inheritance to be paid out in cash. The son spent his inheritance in riotous living and ended up destitute. His father did not owe him anything but welcomed him back. The story is not really about the inheritence or its value. It is about the love of the father for a rebellious son.
Evidently, the father was a man of some means and the inheritance would have involved land, animals, slaves, and other personal property. All things that the Father was still using for his own purposes for the household. It would be a hardship to divide up tangible property and the working assets of the family business prematurely. So in traditional Middle Eastern Culture, to ask for the inheritance while the father is still alive and in good health would be to say that the son wishes his father was dead!
Also, family farms in those times were small close-knit communities and economic units. This story took place in front of a watching community of family, many relatives, and neighbors. He ditched his family so he could focus entirely on himself. He used his family’s resources selfishly rather than in a way that would benefit the family-village. Likewise, the older brother was thinking selfishly rather than about what benefits the Father and the whole community most.
I read online by author Bob Dobson …
“The son moved quickly and sold his inheritance, split the family farm, turned it into cash, and got out of the village as quickly as possible. By Jewish custom, at this point he would have been threatened to be disowned by the community. A ceremony called Kezazah (cutting off) would be performed if a Jewish boy lost his inheritance to a Gentile and he would not even be allowed to return or have anything to do with the community. The prodigal knows when he leaves that he better come back with all his inheritance money intact or he will face huge public shame and be completely cut off from his family and his past…. How unusual and unthinkable it was for the son to ask for something that would cause so much pain and humiliation for him and his family….. How impossible and God-like it was for the father to go ahead and grant the request. However, in the process, the relationship between the father and the son was broken and his reputation in the community was damaged.”
The Father represents God who resides in heaven. He could have said to his wasteful son: "First, show yourself worthy to have a place in my home. I want to see your perfection of character, before I am admitting you to my house. You have to climb up my heavenly ladder, set up on earth, so I can see you are prepared for communion with heaven."
But God, in Christ Jesus, came down the heavenly ladder (Philippians 2:5-8) embracing the wasteful son and restoring to him the former position, much to the dismay of his elder brother who had been trying hard to climb up the heavenly ladder all the time to show himself worthy of being a son of his father (Luke 15:29, Romans 9:30-31).
I think, we all need to reconsider the heavenly ladder, and why we do not need to climb it up. We do not need to, because Christ has already come down to us on that ladder (John 1:51).
He has come down to search for the lost coin in the dirt of the house and to look for the lost sheep to bring it back to the fold. While some are complaining about the goodness of God (Luke 15:2), heaven is shouting for joy (Luke 15:7). That joy could be reflected on our faces.
Winfried Stolpmann
Winfried Stolpmann
Winfried Stolpmann having read your comment about heavenly Ladder I thought of the Ladder of Godliness -2nd Peter 1:5-8
Grace is not opposed to effort,it is opposed to earning.For prodigal son to benefit from his father's mercy,he had to do his part.
Working to earn our salvation is an exercise in futility.It cannot be done.But according to Peter, working to become more like God is an exercise of great value.
We begin with faith that Jesus already has given us the gift of salvation,that we're assured of eternal life through his sacrifice and merits.Building on that foundation,we must make every effort to add goodness to that faith.As we make gains in being good, we add to that goodness knowledge, which in turn enables us to see how we can grow even more in goodness and faith.
Then,to our growing knowledge we must add self control.We often know what we ought to do,but we lack self-control to actually do it.When we add self control to our knowledge,it makes us grow further in goodness and faith.
To self control then ,we must add perseverance, enduring the difficulties and trials that the enemy throws at us in order to discourage our growth toward godliness.And again, perseverance helps the previous virtues to strengthen and mature.Then we must add godliness.We must strive toward the goal of becoming more like God.Then we will come to know him in a much deeper way.This too causes previous virtues to strengthen and grow.
To such godly maturity we must add brotherly love.And finally,to brotherly love,we add pure agape love.Such love is the pinnacle of godliness,the top of the ladder.This love is the basis of God's universal government.
When through God's power,we work at these things,we do not gain them all at once but in increasing meaure.As we come to possess these virtues,and they grow within us,we will bear fruit of God.Galatians 5:22,23,We will be effective and productive in our work for the Master.Our growing maturity will show results.
Thank you, Dishon Mwiti Peter, for opening up further aspects of grace to be manifested after being saved from slavery to sin. Reconsidering the position of Peter, I come to the following observation of the passage regarding 2 Peter 1: 1-11).
To beging with, Peter mentions the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ (1 Peter1:2), which is granted by grace alone, without previous works to earn grace. Next, Peter wishes that grace and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord (1 Peter1:2). Knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ is not so much intellectual knowledge but intimate spiritual relationship with God in Christ Jesus out of which grace will be manifested in spiritual growth operated and acted on by grace.
Next, Peter says that "His divive power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3). What kind of power is he talking about? In his first epistle he says: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3). The power granted to us from the beginning, is the power of the resurrection of Christ. Intimate relationship with Christ brings us into contact and connection with his resurrection power.
It is from this basis that Peter goes on calling for every effort to supplement faith with virtue, ending up his list of actions with love (agape). Considering the context, Peter is talking about grace being manifested in these supplementing actions. That means: Salvation from the slavery in sin is achieved by grace alone. Sanctification also is operating by grace alone. It all is aiming at the entrance into the eternal kingdom. And all who will be there, will confess that they are there by grace alone.
Winfried Stolpmann
I would like to get this lesson every month please I want to study more May God bless you all
We don't post lessons out but if you want to look at the lessons that are available ahead of time this is the place to look:
Sabbath School Lessons Jan-Mar, 2025