The Servants

Bible Reading: Luke 15:11-32 

Key Verse: Verse 19 – “And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”

Key Words: make me as one of thy hired servants

Steve Kilpatrick brings out in the story of the prodigal son that there are actually three different characters in this story.

First there is the young son, the prodigal who wasted his inheritance on a self-centered lifestyle and ended up in want (verse 14).

Next there is the older brother, who had an attitude problem and became angry with the father for putting a robe on the younger son, putting shoes on his feet, and a ring on his finger.  He was angry because his brother was forgiven and receiving things he had never received.

Then there are the servants, who obeyed and did as they were told and were happy in the service of the master.  Now, isn’t that who we should be?

Bruce Thielemann, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, told of a conversation with a member of his flock who said, “You preachers talk a lot about ‘do unto others,’ but when you get right down to it, it comes down to basin theology.”  Thielemann asked, “Basin theology?  What’s that?”  The layman said, “Remember what Pilate did when he had the chance to acquit Jesus?  He called for a basin and washed his hands of the whole thing.  But Jesus the night before His death, called for a basin and proceeded to wash the feet of the disciples.”   It all comes down to basin theology: Which one will you use?

                                                                                        Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:

✞ Choose to be a servant.