We know the story of The Prodigal Son, the one who squandered his wealth, strayed from his father and his family and from all he knew that was good.
Then, he finally came to his senses and came back home thinking he would just be a servant to his father since he had messed things up so badly.
When his father saw him, he was so glad to see his son again.
He celebrated and let his son know how glad he was that he returned.
The other brother wasn’t so glad. He felt like he was not important when he had never left his father or his life or squandered his wealth.
I think some of us may feel this way when the harvest comes in,
when the Lord joins the remnant to His body before His return.
That some people who have lived their whole lives
on their own lusts and pleasures will find the Lord so easily.
That will happen as, I suspect, many will come to the Lord
that didn’t even profess the Lord before.
I felt that way with a long-time friend once. She had been in the dregs.
She had not put God first for many years and when she came back,
it was like she had never left.
I was a little put out.
The Lord talked to me. He was very kind. He was not angry.
‘You have always been with Me. All that I have is yours.’
Just like in the story:
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad:
for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
:uke 15:31-32
I also learned of Jesus’ heart toward this friend.
That He loved this friend and was glad she came back. By Him being so kind and understanding to me, I was able to see His heart and be glad, too.
I needed to be more secure in my relationship with Him and He understood that, too, just like the father of the Prodigal son did.
Caring about God’s heart is of great value to Him.
Getting caught up in what others have done or in any sort of competition
is not beneficial. Each of us has our position and one does not conflict with the other. God will reward each of us for what we have done.
And, He has created us each for our individual purposes.
There is no need to worry about the rewards and love God gives to others.
Go about the Father’s business and love and be kind to all, resting in Him, assured that our relationship with God does not depend on others,
but on what He has built with each of us.
Additional Scriptures:
For as the body is one, and hath many members,
and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body:
so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body,
whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free;
and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
For the body is not one member, but many.
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body;
is it therefore not of the body?
And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body;
is it therefore not of the body?
If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?
If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body,
as it hath pleased Him.
And if they were all one member, where were the body?
But now are they many members, yet but one body.
And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee:
nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Nay, much more those members of the body,
which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable,
upon these we bestow more abundant honour;
and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
For our comely parts have no need:
but God hath tempered the body together,
having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
That there should be no schism in the body;
but that the members should have the same care one for another.
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it;
or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27