Bitterness

Luke 15:25-32 - Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was abgry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do i serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 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.

I think most of us know the story of the prodigal son and his return to his father after years of absence. The point that I'm making tonight with this story, is that the older brother was extremely bitter about his younger brother's return. The older brother felt hatred towards his brother because he (ob) felt that he had been more faithful to his father. The older brother couldn't understand why his father would be so happy that his younger brother had returned when it was his younger brother's choice to leave in the first place. The older brother wanted praise from his father for staying at home and doing what he was supposed to.
Jesus used this parable to show the Pharisees how God cares for human beings and rejoices when his children come to home to Him. Jesus wanted the Pharisees to see that it was better to love people than to love law, order, and the appearance of righteousness.
We too should love each other. We should delight in each other's triumphs! Human nature teaches us to only be happy for ourselves, but Christ teaches us that we should rejoice with one another and that we should never withhold a joyful attitude from our friends when they succeed, even if they sometimes overlook our victories.

God Bless,
Taylor