Jesus told the story of a young man who asked his father for his future inheritance and then bolted. For a while, life was good. He indulged his desires. Booze. Women. Parties. Jesus said that this young man “wasted all of his money in wild living” (Luke 15:13). But when his wealth vanished, so did his friends. His story illustrates Proverbs 22:3: “A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”
A famine devastated the land where the young man was living. He had to get a job, but the only employment available was farm work. His boss tasked him with feeding the pigs. The young man was hungry as he watched the pigs gobble their meals. Then, “he finally came to his senses” (Luke 15:17). He remembered that the hired workers at his father’s home always had full stomachs. So the young man left his job and went back to his father’s house humbled and apologetic.
In pursuit of a better, more rewarding life, we sometimes take risks and make decisions that don’t work out well. Like the young man in Jesus’ story, we may overlook potential problems or insist on going our own way. If our plans fail, excitement fades to disappointment. The opportunity that was supposed to make life better results in pain.
In her book The Best Yes, Lysa TerKeurst says, “No matter what wrong thing has happened, there is a right next thing to do.” Often, our next steps should include accepting the humility that comes with our circumstances and the comfort that comes from our heavenly Father. He says, “I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts” (Isaiah 57:15).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 10:1-23
More:
Read Psalm 51:7-11 and consider David’s posture before God after he had made some sinful choices.
Next:
Have you ever made a choice or taken an unwise risk that caused you pain? Why is it vital for us to repent and turn to God when we make choices against Him and His ways?
Gary Shultz on October 23, 2016 at 7:34 am
Hi Jennifer, repentance is of great importance, God tells us it is the only way we will start the process restoration as the son in today’s account. Have I ever caused pain to others and my self because of selfish and rouge behavior? You bet. I find the repentance is something we must know and keep in our thoughts; however, I would like to mention thoughts that may prevent the problem we see in today’s account. Life often will be seen by how we adjust our view, for example if we view the world with humble, thankful eyes, we would not look with greed and self indulgence. We are content, we are satisfied when it comes to desires for self. I think we mostly would be familiar with these thoughts also. So instead of “the grass is greener” we say thank you Lord because “God hath provided again” in our greedy world we just don’t want to see it sometimes. Yeah, I’m a stuff guy too; however, I have learned to be satisfied, and thankful. Thanks Jennifer
jennifer benson schuldt on October 23, 2016 at 5:27 pm
Hi Gary,
I appreciate your comment about greed. Greed drove the prodigal son to ask for his inheritance and then waste it. As you pointed out, the way in which we view the world translates into our struggle (or lack of struggle) with greed. If we experience the abundant life Christ offers (John 10:10), thankfulness results. If we don’t value spiritual abundance, the world and all it has to offer is enticing. I pray that God will help all of us see and pursue the spiritual fulfillment Jesus provides.
leevc5 on October 23, 2016 at 7:57 am
This reminds me so much of myself and how my life was consumer by pursuing Things:
In the Beginning
My eyes were opened, it was painfully shocking but was comforted and found moments of peace as never known before. Pursuit of God/accepting Christ as my savior has been a focus in my life for many years. However, I never seemed to get there. Beginning each day with reading, meditating and praying. One part of my prayer has been: “Lord open our eyes that we may see, open our ears that we may hear, see our sinful ways repent ask your forgiveness and resist sinning further.”
My prayer was answered on that day not too long ago and I was given a glimpse of my sinful ways. As this story began the opening of my eyes revealed the painfully shocking sight of my sinful ways. First seen was the guitars and equipment that I had acquired, a hobby it seemed to me and when I looked at them that morning they were revolting in my eyes. I prayed for understanding and the Spirit was quick to answer: I had come to covet all things guitar, I, in a manner of speaking, worshipped guitars. My sins were coveting and idol worship. The Spirit gave me some time to absorb this giving me comfort and moments of peace as I was dealing with this shocking fact.
Pondering, praying and meditating on my sinful ways I was convinced that some dishonest financial transactions I had made was my next big sin. However, the Spirt kept flashing seemly inconsequential but still dishonest activities I had been involved in on an internet forum. Bewildered by this repeated awareness of the forum activities I prayed again for an answer why this was so important when I had done so many other things that I thought worse. The Spirit let me see that my behavior on that forum was saturated with pride. Pride, the thing that seemed absent from my character was, after reflection, an insidious sin that had, over the years, crept into every aspect of my life. I was filled with pride and the more I reflected the deeper I found it’s evil tentacles reaching everywhere it had destroyed relationships, friendships and fulfillment at work for years over the course of my adult life.
“I will send you a helper”
I truly believe that I was filled with the Holy Spirit. My mind was working well beyond it’s normal level of intelligence and insight. As in the case of making the connection between my internet activities and the blinding pride that held me prisoner, that is a revelation that I would never had made on my own steam.
Other revelations continued to be opened up to me. The pain and shock of seeing my coveting, idol worship, and pride made it evident that a huge process had begun. I suddenly found a sense of what C. S. Lewis was talking about when he told George MacDonald’s story about being like a house not just having the plumbing repaired but being torn down and rebuilt into a palace where the Lord intended to reside. I had read that piece many times and had an intellectual picture of what was being written about but now I believe I truly am beginning to understand it in my heart as well as my mind. Many other such insights were given to me from readings in the Bible, Bill Graham, C. S. Lewis, Our Daily Bread and several other related sources.
Some of these insights were thrilling. Like when studying mathematics, you work very hard and begin to think you will never understand. Then one day it all comes to you and what was a seemly impenetrable wall has opened up and you see the elegance of the Mathematics.
Some of these insights were heartbreaking. Like looking into a mirror for the first time and seeing a small dirty little thing filled with pride, selfishness, dishonesty and so many other foul characteristics.
Now it is important to repeat myself because it is such an important facet of the process. All during this time I was given comfort and moments of peace of a kind never experienced before. It was in a way like stepping out of a hot, stuffy, crowded room through a doorway into cool fresh air…but more than any metaphor could hope to compare.
The Spirit was clearly with me of during the days that followed. Acting like an adult teaching a child to ride a bicycle, guiding me, letting me go on my own but preventing me from falling. Gently nudging me in the right direction as I was confronted situations/temptation to choose selfishly.
What I was being taught was Prudence. I was being shown that things that before I would just do without thinking now I was guided to pause and consider (pray for guidance oftentimes) the decision (was to act this way aligning myself with Christ?): If it was wrong, no matter how hard my old selfish interests pushed me I would have to not do it.
On the other side of course there were things that I was made aware of that I should do. I had to fight the selfishness within and do it.
Of course, even in these early days when I felt so strongly committed to this new self I would fail.
jennifer benson schuldt on October 23, 2016 at 5:03 pm
leevc5,
Thank you for taking the time to share your story with us. It’s encouraging to hear about your sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s work in your life. I like the way you described God giving you time to absorb what He was showing you, and supplying you with comfort and moments of peace in the process. I can relate. Thank God for His grace. Your story reminded me of Galatians 5, specifically, verse 25: “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” Let all of us look to God with expectation and thankfulness. We’re thankful for what He has done, and we know we can expect Him to continue guiding and growing us through His Spirit.
kauai143 on October 23, 2016 at 9:39 am
Hi Jennifer, your devotions are such a blessing. The story of the lost son is a powerful picture of the faithfulness of our God! Abundant mercy, grace and love is ours when we humbly repent before a holy God. Thank you Jesus that you have given me this privilege because of your great sacrifice. To God be the glory!
jennifer benson schuldt on October 23, 2016 at 5:04 pm
Amen!
sim jing ying on October 23, 2016 at 10:16 am
I did made choices that hurt me but I stood resilient in God’s power to overcome regret and depression and move along as before but with a changed and correct mindset. It is vital to repent so to realign yourself to God’s plan for you.
jennifer benson schuldt on October 23, 2016 at 5:08 pm
Thank you for telling everyone how God helped you come back to Him after making some less-than-perfect choices. You are right, turning away from the wrong path, turning toward God, and asking forgiveness from Him is the way to realign ourselves with His plan for our lives.