Work Week Word-Friday’s Word-”Missing The Big Picture”

Missing the Big Picture
Luke 15:25-32

“You never done that for me…”
How many of us have spoken those words to a parent? If you haven’t, you must be an only child. How many have had those words spoken to us as a parent? Either way, we tend to miss the actual thing that is going on when the words were spoken. The person listening to them understands that the person is hurt about something. But they really they don’t understand why.  One wonders how can they be upset, when they have all the things they need?  It’s not like they are getting anything extra…what is the problem?

Being the oldest child and having a younger sister, I KNOW my mom was tired of hearing my brother and I saying that statement. “You never hold us like that”…”Ma, you never fed us like that”…”Why does she get that, you never done that for us.” In the scheme of things, we were really missing the big picture.

Here, the “lost” son has come home and has been greeted by his father. In his joy, the father has told his servants to dress his son for a feast and kill a calf to celebrate his return. While the feast was going on, the oldest son was in the field working (and afterwards started to walk in from working).  As he came closer to the house and heard the music, he asked a servant what was going on. “Well, your brother has come home and your dad has thrown him a big party…”  Imagine if you will, you have been working in the field all day. Your brother had left you to do not only your share, but his as well. For a specified time it has been this way and suddenly, after walking in from the field, one of your servants says that your brother is home. Not only that, your father is throwing him a big shindig for returning. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that he left home to GO PARTY. How would that make you feel? I don’t know about you, but I think it would be some furniture moving in that party (Hammercy).

Instead of going in the son decided to stay outside and pout. I know I’m going to get on some toes, but how many of us let stuff sit in us rather than letting it out? We would rather hold something in and let it make us sick rather than telling the person or releasing it. Do you understand two things will happen; 1) the person will not know what they did and will go on with their life and 2) you will not let it go and are stuck in the incident. You are going around with the lips all out and the person is smiling all in your face because they feel everything is good. It wasn’t until his father came out to him that he told what was on his mind. “Dad, I have been here all this time…I haven’t given you ANY trouble and not once have you given me a party. But as soon as my trifling brother comes home, you want to throw him a party? Are you serious? You never done that for me.” I can see his dad with a look on his face thinking, “My son is such a baby…he is really missing the big picture.” The dad explained that we should be happy to see your brother alive and in good health…he was lost and now is home. “Son, why are you upset when all that I have, you have…all you had to do is ask. Don’t let this stop you from being happy.”

Some of us are missing out on the party because we are stressing on the things we THINK we didn’t get. When we look back on it, they have been there all the time. We see someone receiving a blessing and we think, “Well…God never did that for me”, when He has done that and more for you. Stop looking at the party as what you didn’t get, but look at it as the celebration of life. You have the same opportunity to receive a blessing, too. Not only that, but you have been with your Daddy for a little while longer. You just haven’t tapped into the resources. Don’t let your envious and jealousy make you miss the big picture.

Work Your Faith
Copyright 2012 Dwayne T. Moore
Visit Work Week Word at www.workweekword.blogspot.com
“Something to get you through the work week”

• Work Week Word-Monday’s Word-”There Is A Reason For This”
• Work Week Word-Wednesday’s Word-”Give God Your Best”