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 angry, 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.

What is the older son really saying? That his brother did not deserve any of the things his father had given him. That he was unworthy of such a celebration. That he had disobeyed his father and should not be rewarded for doing so. He is saying that he had obeyed his father and yet had never been rewarded for his behavior, that if anyone deserved a fatted calf and a party, it was actually him.

But what is the father saying? That his son was more important to him than the money that was lost and the sin that was committed. That he loved him enough to show grace and compassion when he returned with a repentant heart. That his gifts to his son were not based on his son’s actions, but the father’s own love and mercy. The truth is, the younger son didn’t deserve those things, but that’s the point of grace. Equally so, the older son had not earned anything from his father by following all the rules, but he possessed those things already due to his standing as his father’s son and dwelling in his father’s house.

We are not rewarded for our sin, but we do avoid the punishment for it because of God’s grace and mercy. Because of His great love for us, He chooses to bless us when we are His children. He chooses to have mercy when we’ve gone astray and then come to our senses. He chooses to make a way for the lost to be found and to return home again. Our salvation is all about God giving us what we don’t deserve, and that is something in which we can truly rejoice.