The Hindrance of Misunderstanding
Part 1 of the "Content Life" message series
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!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” – Luke 15:25-32 (NIV)
The BIG Idea:
Understanding the goodness of God allows us to be thankful for the gifts God provides for us. We must move our focus away from the gifts we have and put our focus on the Lord. This will help us be thankful for God’s love and provision and open us up to fulfill our purpose for which God created us.
The way we treat the blessings the Lord entrusts portrays how we think of God.
The world is full of people who assume the blessings the Lord gives are theirs for the taking.
Wasting our gifts on our own glory and pleasure leaves us unfulfilled and miserable.
Illustration: Countless celebrities in recent history
Failing to appreciate and properly utilize our gifts will entice us to leave them for one empty pursuit after another.
The misuse of our gifts does not always result in untimely death, but it does often lead to broken relationships, squandered opportunities, and lost dreams.
The older brother underestimated the gift from his father.
Illustration: The double inheritance for the oldest Jewish male child; The platinum car model
Misunderstanding the goodness of God hinders us from being grateful.
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. – James 1:17 (NASB)
Greed can cause us to misunderstand so many things in life – especially gratitude.
We must adjust our perspective to remind ourselves to be grateful for the blessings God gives to us.
“We’re not held back by what we don’t have, but what we don’t use.” – Author Bob Goff
We must be intentional about what we choose to plant.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. – Galatians 6:7-8 (NASB)
Set faithfulness as the goal.
“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ – Matthew 25:21 (NLT)
“God never asked me to be successful. God asked me to be obedient.” – Mother Teresa (1910-1997)
Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalms 37:4 (NASB)
Questions for Reflection:
Who are some people you are grateful for in life?
What are some things you are grateful for in life?
Are there people or things in your life you are valuing over your relationship with Jesus?
Are there people, things, or opportunities the Lord has provided you sometimes see as a burden?
Since you learned about the Jewish custom with the inheritance for the eldest son, do you think greed may have blinded the eldest son to the reality of his blessings?
Why do you think the older brother had a hindrance in understanding what his father was trying to communicate to him about his brother?
What are some practical Biblical steps you may take to correct your perception?
What blessings are you holding back on today that God wants you to invest for the Kingdom of God?
The BIG Idea:
Understanding the goodness of God allows us to be thankful for the gifts God provides for us. We must move our focus away from the gifts we have and put our focus on the Lord. This will help us be thankful for God’s love and provision and open us up to fulfill our purpose for which God created us.
The way we treat the blessings the Lord entrusts portrays how we think of God.
The world is full of people who assume the blessings the Lord gives are theirs for the taking.
Wasting our gifts on our own glory and pleasure leaves us unfulfilled and miserable.
Illustration: Countless celebrities in recent history
Failing to appreciate and properly utilize our gifts will entice us to leave them for one empty pursuit after another.
The misuse of our gifts does not always result in untimely death, but it does often lead to broken relationships, squandered opportunities, and lost dreams.
The older brother underestimated the gift from his father.
Illustration: The double inheritance for the oldest Jewish male child; The platinum car model
Misunderstanding the goodness of God hinders us from being grateful.
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. – James 1:17 (NASB)
Greed can cause us to misunderstand so many things in life – especially gratitude.
We must adjust our perspective to remind ourselves to be grateful for the blessings God gives to us.
“We’re not held back by what we don’t have, but what we don’t use.” – Author Bob Goff
We must be intentional about what we choose to plant.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. – Galatians 6:7-8 (NASB)
Set faithfulness as the goal.
“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ – Matthew 25:21 (NLT)
“God never asked me to be successful. God asked me to be obedient.” – Mother Teresa (1910-1997)
Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalms 37:4 (NASB)
Questions for Reflection:
Who are some people you are grateful for in life?
What are some things you are grateful for in life?
Are there people or things in your life you are valuing over your relationship with Jesus?
Are there people, things, or opportunities the Lord has provided you sometimes see as a burden?
Since you learned about the Jewish custom with the inheritance for the eldest son, do you think greed may have blinded the eldest son to the reality of his blessings?
Why do you think the older brother had a hindrance in understanding what his father was trying to communicate to him about his brother?
What are some practical Biblical steps you may take to correct your perception?
What blessings are you holding back on today that God wants you to invest for the Kingdom of God?