Food to Spare

"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's servants have food to spare and here I am about to starve?'" Luke 15:17


When I came across the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 this morning, something struck me- it is the father's compassion to his servants that persuaded the young son to return. He knew that his father's servants were treated well because he had seen it firsthand. I can imagine the servants in their homes, laughing and eating their fill and not worrying about where their next meal was going to come from because they trusted in the generosity of their master. The son is reminded of the comfort of his previous life because he remembered the joy of his father's servants.

I've been thinking a lot lately about my responsibility (and privilege) as a daughter of the King to look and behave differently than the rest of the world. How do I wear that title with humility and not haughtiness, as something that was graciously given to me and not earned? How do I immerse myself in my culture enough to relate to it and be sympathetic with the lost around me without letting it darken my heart?

I think that we, as our Father's servants, should be living in such a way that we remind the straying how good it is beneath the provision of our Master.
I should be joyful in difficulties because I have a good Father who has a plan for me. I should be grateful in sadness because I have a good Father who offers endless comfort. I should be peaceful in stress because I have a good Father who hears my prayers.
If I live that way, the world will notice. Make the lost question what makes you joyful when the logic of the American dream says you shouldn't be. Make them wonder why the fulfillment of worldly ideals and self-promotion is actually pretty lonely.

Being a servant of our God means having "food to spare."
Live gratefully.
Be a reminder.