Quest 31

There was a man who had two sons. 

The Parable of the Prodigal Son,

 or The Parable of the Man Who Had Two Sons?

What is the greatest short story in the world?

• A story by Rudyard Kipling, Jack London, or Edgar Allan Poe?

• Less than 350 words (not including the elder brother appendix), this has been called the greatest short story in the world.

1.   THIS IS A STORY ABOUT A FATHER.

• He waited – he did not stop him from leaving

 “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country

• He watched.

 But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion,

• He welcomed.

 and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

2.   THIS IS A STORY ABOUT A FATHER WHO HAD A PRODIGAL SON.

• He thought he would be free

 ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country

• He forgot the price for sin.

 and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

• He faced a decision about truth.

 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father.

• Decision without action does not lead to recovery.

3.   THIS IS ALSO A STORY ABOUT A FATHER WHO HAD A SON WHO STAYED AT HOME BUT WAS NOT AT HOME.

• His time at home seemed like drudgery.

 ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command,

• He was resentful.

 yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’

• He missed the joy of being with the Father.

 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.’

God does not care how you are lost.

God does not care where you are lost.

God cares for the lost.