Eyesalve: Love Overcomes Religion

“Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. ²⁶And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. ²⁷And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. ²⁸And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. ²⁹And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: ³⁰But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. ³¹And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. ³²It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.” Lk. 15:25-32

In this parable of the prodigal son, we can learn that the real problem with the elder son was that he was a religious man. You may ask, what makes you say that? I will tell you, the elder son kept all the ordinances of his father’s house. He served his father for many years. And that is exactly the case he made to his father, he said, “Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment.” This is what the son stood on. This was his pride. So what’s wrong with that? Shouldn’t we obey God? Well of course we must but obedience without love is religion. So you might ask again, how do you know the elder son did not love his father? Well, he might have some degree of love for his father but that does not mean that he loves. If the elder son truly had love he would have loved his brother as well. He would have outrun his dad to go greet his brother. He would have been the first with a knife in his hand to help butcher the fatted calf. He would have been the first in the dance line. He would have made the toast and said, my brother was lost but now he is found. But instead his religion made him grumpy and cold. He was robbed of joy. There is no greater way to serve God and man then to do it because you love them.

Pastor Fischer

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