February 4, 2024
We’re in a message series called “Witness”. It’s all about sharing our faith. We could all use some help with that, some motivation and courage to do it. Last week we heard about Paul and Silas, who were in prison because they healed someone in Jesus’ name. When an earthquake shook the prison, they didn’t do what anyone would do: RUN! Instead, they cared about the jailer, and they stayed put so he wouldn’t get in trouble. Because of that the jailer and all his family were baptized that day!
So last week I asked you to think of three people you could help find their way to God and church. Next week we’re going to hear about Jesus and the woman at the well, how she came to believe and told everyone in her town about Jesus!
Today we’re talking about the story of the Prodigal son, and what finally got him to return home. Prodigal means wastefully extravagant. The story of the Prodigal son is a parable Jesus told. It’s a made-up story he told to make a point. So, there’s a son who has a great life and a loving father. But the son decides he’s had enough, he wants all his inheritance now! He’s supposed to get an inheritance, money from his family, one day, when his father dies. But he tells his father, I want my money, and I want it now! His father loves him so much. It’s an unusual request, but the father says ok and gives him all the wealth he’s supposed to get. The son leaves, he doesn’t send word home that he’s ok, and he never contacts them. He doesn’t care about his family. He spends his money on partying. He blows through all he has, and the friends he’s made no longer care about him now that he’s poor. There’s a famine in the land. He ends up taking care of pigs, and wishing he could eat some of what the pigs are eating!
In this parable, the main characters seem to be the Prodigal son, his father, and the Prodigal son’s brother. But there are also servants in the story, and they play a HUGE role. I want to show you today, as we remind ourselves of the importance of being a witness, how big their role was as servants.
So, the prodigal son is hungry, with no friends left, and he works as a servant, feeding pigs that eat better than him! The pigs got carob pods. Whatever that is. He was wishing for some carob pods himself!
We are talking about the servants in the story, and you know what’s interesting? At the lowest point in the prodigal son’s life, Luke 15 verse 17-19, he remembered his father’s servants! “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’
Without the father’s servants even realizing it, they influenced this son, because the MOMENT he was so low that he came to his senses, the first thing he thought of was not his father, not God, he thought of what the servants had! Maybe he thought his father would be too angry to want to speak to him. Maybe he thought God would be angry too. But he thought, I can be a servant in my father’s house. That’s what I want to be.
So often in life, we want to hear the story of the big important people in the world. They are in the news. That’s who people talk about. We want to be those people, the ones in charge. But the thing that brought this prodigal son to return home and apologize was not his important wealthy father. It was the thought of his father’s servants. He realized they were very important people, and they were treasured, appreciated, and treated well by his father. They did important work. He just wanted to be a servant in his father’s house. Jesus said in Matthew 23:11 “The greatest among you will be your servant.” The prodigal son comes to realize, the greatest people are the ones who serve!
They were lowly servants, but they had influence! The Prodigal Son remembered his father’s servants, and that was his turning point. That’s when he decided to go home. He saw if he became a servant in his father’s house, that would be a wonderful life!
The father’s servants next have a job to do, the father says, “We have to have a party and celebrate! Because my son was lost, but now he’s found!” So now they are preparing for a party! At church, every Sunday is a party! Why? Because this is a holy place! We meet God here and people get saved here! Think about the history of our church. We would not have worship here today without the countless people who have sacrificed and who today sacrifice their time, talents, and treasure to make church happen. They SERVE! The greatest people are those who serve!
In the parable of the Prodigal son, Jesus tells us that people are watching us. People watch when you humbly serve and watch the way you interact with them and other people. You can witness, you can reach out with God’s love, because of the way you live and the love you share. God is with his servants, with you, when you invite someone, when you tell them of God’s love.
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world! A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and hides it under a bushel. So let your light shine!” Jesus wants you to be a servant of God. And he wants you to do something with your influence. Don’t hide it! Let God’s love shine for others to see!
During this “Witness” sermon series, we’re encouraging you to take some actions to help other people find the joy you have in God. Last Sunday my challenge was for you to think of three people you could share your faith with and invite to church. This Sunday my challenge is for you to connect with your three people in some way: through social media, through text, or a phone call.
The idea is to be a servant. Your reaching out is not all about you. Don’t be a me monster on social media, just posting about me, me, me! When Jesus met people, he asked questions, he had conversations with them. He was interested in them. He connected with them. So just like Jesus, reach out and be interested in your three people and how they’re doing. You can offer to pray for them. Most people want to be prayed for. When someone offers to pray for me: they are my heroes! You probably underestimate how much it means to someone when you pray for them!
I remember once a minister I knew was in the hospital. I went to visit him. I asked if I could pray for him, he said yes, and I said a prayer. Then he said, “Thank you so much for praying for me!” He said a couple of other ministers had visited him, but they didn’t pray for him. They missed an opportunity to make a difference and serve. Most people want prayer, so you don’t want to be the person who someone hoped would pray for them, but you didn’t!
We’re on a mission. You and I are real people, imperfect people, following Jesus and our mission is to bring people to Him. Jesus says don’t hide your light, let it shine! People are looking for the hope, peace, love, and joy that comes only from God. You have a chance to serve, and by serving make an eternal difference in others’ lives. Amen!
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