I have recently finished reading The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith another great book by author Tim Keller.

As you might imagine, this book is about the parable that Jesus told that is usually called “The Prodigal Son.” Keller rightly points out the problem with this title. The story is about a father and two sons – not one. He also points out that the meaning of the word “prodigal” applies to the father as well as to the younger sons actions, and in fact the father exhibits this “lavish” characteristic in his generosity more than the younger son did in his disobedient living. Hence, the title of the book.

Luke 15:11-32 (NIV)

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

” ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ “

Keller points out the historical context for the parable was targeted at the religious establishment of the day – the Pharisees (see Luke 15:1). Jesus was getting to the core of their self-righteousness, motives and attitudes. He then makes the case that this parable is very applicable to us North American evangelicals … as we tend to be more like the “elder brother” in the parable. We see the “sins” of those around us and judge others so easily, but we can’t see our own self-sufficiency, hypocrisy and lack of mercy and love.

As I read the book, I found myself connecting with the younger brother at times, and then the older brother as well. The lavish love, mercy, forgiveness and grace the father extends to both sons is astonishing! The fact is, I have needed that outpouring of mercy from a “prodigal God” myself as a “younger brother,” and I have needed the pleading from the father as an “older brother.” My heart needs to respond to him not for what he can do or give to me (inheritance, power, prosperity, blessing, etc.), but because I just want him for who he is. He’s not asking for a performance based relationship, and there is nothing I can do to merit the relationship he invites me into. This is hard for me to accept… and I think it is hard for many of us to live with.

I highly recommend the book.

Here is a sermon by Tim Keller on “The Prodigal God”