Characteristics of a Prodigal

The story of the Prodigal Son recorded in Luke 15 is a parable told by Jesus and as all the parables of Jesus, it is told to teach us life lessons.  Today I want to focus on the characteristics of the prodigal.  First we see that a prodigal begins his departure from reasonable thinking with unsound thinking. It goes without saying that before he approached his father he had given considerable thought to his decision to leave home.  Once he approached his father he spoke what he had been thinking, "I want my part of the inheritance."  He was asking for something out of season.  It wasn't time for his inheritance to come to him and that meant he wasn't prepared to handle it wisely.  Of course his desire to get his hands on the money wasn't motivated by sound stewardship!  In essence he was making a decision to come out from under his father's "covering".  A covering is a number of things including a place of tutelage.  This is the reason why the Scripture tells us in the Church that we are not to put a novice into a leadership office.  He or she is not yet ready to assume such a role. They need to spend more time under tutelage.  It is not fair to them nor the Church to release them into leadership too soon.  

Once the prodigal gets the money they almost always run away to a "far country".  In this out of the way place they can party without the eye or influence of their rightful authority.  Of course their blindness can't see that they are also beyond the help of the father in the event of a crisis.  A prodigal casts caution to the wind and spends like a "drunken sailor".  The vision of the prodigal is only as far as today.  He only cares about his money lasting through the next party.  He does not have the ability to see down the road or to save for some contingency.  He scoffs at such thinking.  It is too restrictive for his free spirit.  He has been held back by his father's parameters too long!  As always happens, the money ends and crisis begins.  Just as his money ran out, and friends as well, a famine arises.  Famines are a part of seasons of life.  There are good times and bad times and that is why good stewardship is a must to healthy living.  The prodigal thought that was just the control and fearful thinking of his father. Next the prodigal, rather than returning home for help, entered into a covenant with a person "of that country".  A prodigal will seek help from everyone in a crisis but those who love him.  He can't admit the error of his ways.  Then the bottom comes. It always comes. The timing of brokenness is different for all prodigals.  This prodigal was willing to eat the pigs food and at the lowest point, sanity arrives.  He starts thinking clearer and from these thoughts he starts talking to himself. He says, "my father's servants have it better than me so I'll return home." Then he speaks the words that every prodigal must say before restoration can arrive. He said, "I have sinned!"  Brokenness is a prerequisite of restoration. He was willing to go home, lose his former position just to be back under the paternal covering again.  Of course the love of the Father would not allow it.  While the father had to allow the dealing of God to play out in the son's life (this required brokenness in the father) without interfering, once it was complete and evidenced by the brokenness and meekness of the son, it was now time to extend a fresh forgiveness and reconciliation.  The reconciliation was followed by restoration from the father.  

If you are dealing with a prodigal in your natural family or spiritual family, don't  interfere with the dealing of God in their life.  Trust God in the matter.  As the father of the prodigal we must wait on the process to run it's full course and be ready to forgive and restore when the broken one returns to the father's house.  May today be the day that you see your prodigal coming up the drive to home.