Biblical Wisdom for Modern Parenting:
Luke 15:11-24
Let’s apply some principles from the story of the prodigal son, from the perspective of the dad – if our own child is the prodigal…
#1 – GIVE THEM THEIR FREEDOM:
At the end of verse 12, the father “divided his wealth between them.” The dad gave both sons their freedom.
#2 – ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FEELINGS:
We don’t have specific reference to this in the parable, but how many times have God’s feelings been expressed throughout the Bible story? Not just at Genesis 6:6, but we often see God’s feelings shown both in good feelings and bad feelings. Of course, God knows how to handle His own feelings – you and I sometimes do not. So, we need to acknowledge those feelings and we’ll be stuck in a rut if we don’t.
#3 – STAY HOPEFUL:
In verse 20, we observe that while the son was “a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him.” Don’t you know that daddy was looking down that road every single day? Every time his work brought him close to the road, don’t you know that he glanced down the road to see if he might see his beloved son?
#4 – ALLOW YOUR CHILDREN TO FAIL:
Look at what the son experienced and the dad allowed him to experience:
Verse 13 – He allowed his son to walk away.
Verse 13 – He allowed his son to go to a “distant country.”
Verse 13 – He allowed his son to waste his inheritance (the father’s hard earned money!) on “loose living.”
Verse 14 – He allowed his son to spend everything he had.
Verse 14 – He allowed his son to experience the severe famine.
Verse 14 – He allowed his son to become impoverished.
Verse 15 – He allowed his son to become a slave of someone else.
Verse 15 – He allowed his son to feed swine – a very unpleasant job for a Jew!
Verse 16 – He allowed his son to become hungry.
Verse 16 – He allowed his son to become lonely.
#5 – REMEMBER THE OTHER CHILDREN:
All this time, the older brother in the parable has been at home, working, doing what he was supposed to be doing. In verse 31, the father tells the older brother: “You have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.” The father continued to love and support and encourage the older brother. He did not neglect the one for the other.
#6 – STAY PRAYERFUL:
Frequently in our decisions, all we can do is to pray: “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2).
#7 – BE GRACIOUS:
Make sure your words to your child are gracious words: “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Col. 4:6).
Make sure your attitude is one of graciousness: “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32).
There is still hope for your prodigal. Follow God’s example; encourage, pray, and hope.
Paul Holland