0294. The Home Spurning

The Home Spurning

"Give me the portion of goods that faileth unto me" (Luk_15:12).

The first thing we see in the story of the prodigal son, is his despising his own home. He was ill at ease. Some fanciful stories of the "far country" had come to his ears. He was tired of being tied to home. He despised his birthright; he discounted the privileges of his father’s presence and counsel; he wanted to "see the world, and have some real fun."

The second thing is the request: "Give me the portion of goods, that faileth unto me." He not only wanted to break the ties that bound him to his home, but he wanted to deplete the riches of that home by taking from it, his portion of the father’s goods.

What a picture of many of our young people. They begin to despise the hallowed "Father’s House;" they feel they have outgrown their place in the church; they want to get out and enjoy the world; then they ask for their goods, that they may squander them upon the pleasures of "vanity fair."

But, why should young people think that their Father’s House is too circumscribed for them? Surely the Father’s counsel is worth the while; surely the Father’s presence is the greatest boon that they could have.

But why want to break away from God? Is it the desire for fun? But wait: the very streets of the Father’s city are filled with boys and girls, playing in the streets thereof. Fun? Is there no fullness of joy in God? Are there no pleasures forever more? Where did the young man get the idea that he could not be happy and be saved? Does separation from the things that destroy health and purity of life, and Heaven mean that you cannot have happiness?

Who is it that has robbed the garden of God of all its fragrant flowers? No, it is not true. Young people do not need to feed the appetites of the flesh, with the vulgar dance, with the obsenity of the picture show or with the dangerous game of cards, in order to be happy.

Beware that you spurn not your Father’s house! He will seek your best in everything. The far country is a mirage; it is worse, it is the dismal way of darkness and of death.

Be not allured from home by the devil’s lie. He will deceive you. He will promise, but he will not pay; he will paint pictures that are not real; his name is deceiver, and he is a liar from the beginning.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR