October 19, 2025 -The Father's Will

LUKE 14:25-17:10

JOHN 11:1-37

Chronological Bible Readings

Luke 14:11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “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.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

I have been thinking about the scripture for Sunday in James 4 and when I read the story of the Lost Son also known as the Prodigal Son I see James teaching applying to him as well.

James 4:13-17 NIV

[13] Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” [14] Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. [15] Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” [16] As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. [17] If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

The first son had his own plans and ideas about what he was going to do. He asked for his portion of the estate because he thought he knew better than the father. He was proud and boastful of what he wanted to do or he wouldn't have asked for the inheritance. It was not standard practice and was actually disrespectful. I love that the father gave it to him even though he knew that his son was not the responsible one. Just as God allows us to make plans even when He knows that it isn't going to work out the way we planned it. The son is making his plans with no regard to the father. After he wastes away all the money, he makes more plans but at least this time it is with some thought of the father. For his own comfort and wellbeing, he plans to go and be one of the father's servants. It is like he is saying if the father wills it. He doesn't look to the father until he has suffered. But his plans again turn out different than what he expects. Turning to the father the fathers will is better than he could have imagined.

Then you have the other son. The one who has stayed at home and been a dutiful son. He too has plans that he is not saying if the father wills it. He thinks he knows how things should be. He has expectations of what is right and when the situation doesn't conform to his ideas and his plans he gets angry. But the response he should have is if you will it father then I will trust you.

Both sons were lost. Both made their plans without concern for the father's will. We see that the first son comes back to the father and experiences the blessing of living in the will of the father but we don't know from the story what the second son does.

Including God in our plans and trusting Him and His will can spare us some suffering at times. If we make our plans on our own without trusting God He will allow us to make those choices even though He knows it won't turn out the way we planned which often results in suffering. When we put our trust in Him and give our opinions and plans up to His sovereign will then we won't be upset when things aren't going the way we think it should or is fair.

In all areas of life we should say "If it is the Lord's will".