The Prodigal's Older Brother

   In the story of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15:11-32, there are two sons involved in the drama.  The younger brother gets the great majority of the discussion, while the older brother is not talked about much.  This article considers the older brother.

   We do not read anything about the older brother until after the younger brother has returned home and the father has thrown a huge party for the younger son.  After inquiring why there was a party and being told that his younger brother has returned, the older brother became extremely angry and would not join in the party (verses 25-28). 

   He had to be thinking he had faithfully worked on his father’s farm for years, never asking for even the smallest amount of his inheritance due him, dutifully getting up each morning to complete his chores and never once did his father throw a party for his friends and him.  Yet the spoiled, little, devious brother of his who ran off with his portion of the inheritance and spent it all on sinful pleasures, comes back home and his father treats him like nothing had changed in the family relationships.  His father wanted him back!  That scoundrel deserved to pay for his sins against the family name and especially his brother. 

   Do you ever feel that way with God?  “God, look at what I have done for you and I get sick, my family is poor, I don’t get good grades, I ...