Christian Writers Circle

Don’t Waste Your Inheritance
by Judy Hitson

Luke 15:12-13 Voice
One day the younger son came to his father and said, “Father, eventually I’m going to inherit my share of your estate. Rather than waiting until you die, I want you to give me my share now.” And so the father liquidated assets and divided them. A few days passed and this younger son gathered all his wealth and set off on a journey to a distant land. Once there he wasted everything he owned on wild living.

“Haste makes waste.”

Can you identify with me that making hasty decisions can lead to costly mistakes?

The prodigal son probably thought about asking for his inheritance a while, but once he received it, from what we read in Scripture it doesn’t look like it took long to waste it. In the culture of his day, a son was allowed to ask for his inheritance while his father was still living.  

The following verse comes to mind regarding the prodigal son and my own life:

Psalm 25:7 NLT Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth,
Remember me in the light of Your unfailing love,
For You are merciful, O LORD.

The prodigal son experienced the transformation from rebellious sin to the mercy of God through his father.

From my life, I can remember rebellious sins of my youth. Praise God for the experience of His grace and mercy when I confessed and repented of my sins. God in His amazing love forgave me the sins of my youth and gave me new life in Christ.  

We read of the prodigal son’s father running to meet him with compassion, extending love and mercy with a robe, a ring, sandals and celebrating his return with the fattened calf. (Luke 15:20-23) This is a reminder of God’s grace and mercy available for us in our times of need when we go to Him to repent of our sins.

The older son, however, reveals a different perspective. When he heard and saw his father was celebrating his younger brother’s return home, he resented it and was angry. He said to his father in Luke 15:30 Voice So this son of yours comes, this wasteful delinquent who has spent your hard-earned wealth on loose women, and what do you do? You butcher the fattest calf from our herd!”

Scripture does not tell us the end of this son’s story. But we see the faithfulness of this father (Lk.15:11-32) to both his sons, as our Father in heaven is faithful to us.  

Prayer: Come Lord Jesus to our aide to grow in Your likeness by Your Spirit who gives life that we do nothing apart from You and seek the will of our Father in heaven. Amen.