Is God The Ultimate Scrooge?
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Photo by Leighann Renee on Unsplash
What’s your view of God? Do you see Him a scrooge? Someone that is stingy with His blessings? Only doling out to those who “deserve” it. Or, do you see Him as a generous giver? Giving even when the recipient didn’t earn it at all.
Our Heavenly Father is a generous God. He is even more generous than we can fully understand.
He’s given us clues in His word of his goodness and generosity.
Let’s look at the prodigal son for a moment. Most of us have heard the story. The youngest kid come to his father and asks for his inheritance early.
Basically saying, “wish you were already dead dad, so can I have your money now?” Wow, bet that made daddy feel good.
Dad agrees and youngest son heads off to another country to live the “life of his dreams.” Sonny boy lives it up, parties every night, surrounded by friends. But, one day the money runs out. The “friends” leave him penniless and alone to fend for himself in an unknown land.
This son desperately looks for a job, any job. He finds one feeding pigs. FYI - for a Jewish boy of this day, that was like the worst of the “dirty job” he could have ever imagined. Pigs were not allowed to be eaten as a Jew, so feeding them was like having the job of cleaning out port-a-potties.
So hungry, he longed of devouring the food the pigs had, this young man finally came to himself. He had a revelation. “How many of my father’s servants have enough to eat. I’ll go and humble myself and asked to become one of his servants. At least I’ll be able to eat again.”
With this plan in hand, he heads home to his father. But, while this young son is still a long way off, his father sees him. What do you think this father does? He runs to meet him!
(Another FYI, patriarchal men of his day did not run! So this means something.)
Stop and take note, how did this father even know his son was one his way home. There was no texting. He didn’t see his boys latest Instagram post with a beautifully filtered shot of his boy entering, “welcome to Israel” sign. He had have been looking for his youngest son’s return daily.
Next, the son shares his (most likely pre-rehearsed speech) that he was wrong. But, before he even finished his speech his father cut in and said…“Bud, you think I’m going to let you come home? You wasted all your money and now you come crawling back to me for help?! I told you it was a bad idea in the first place and that if you left, you would get to live with the consequences.”
Wait, is that what the Father said? That might be what we would say if the shoe was on the other foot.
Photo by ervin cividini on Unsplash
But, here’s what really happened.
Luke 15:22-24a AMP
22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe [for the guest of honor] and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand, and sandals for his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let us [invite everyone and] feast and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was [as good as] dead and is alive again; he was lost and has been found.’
We’ve all made mistakes. I’ve shared some of my big ones on this blog including disastrous financial decisions, overwhelming stress and a failed first marriage.
But, that’s not what God looks at when He looks at me. He rejoiced over the fact that I ran to Him in the midst of my trials.
He didn’t scold me for what I had lost. He ran to me, hugged me and shouted, “Let’s have a party! My daughter is home!”
“When the prodigal returned home, having wasted his substance in riotous living, the father had not a word of rebuke for the waste nor a word of inquiry regarding the substance. He did not sorrow over all that was spent; he only rejoiced over the opportunity the son’s return afforded him for spending more.” - Sit Walk Stand by Watchman Nee
Our minds go to, “well, now I get to live with the consequences.” That’s not what our Father says.
Joel 2:25-26 NKJV
So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,…You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame.
I’m not saying that we won’t have any ramifications. I am saying that it doesn’t come from our Heavenly Father and He will turn it around for our good. He can use our mistakes to cause good things to happen in our lives.
Romans 8:28 AMP
And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.
I believe our Heavenly Father is way more generous than we realize as we see in the prodigal son story. That’s the picture of our Father that we need to grasp and dwell on.
I know many of our earthly fathers failed us miserably. But, please don’t think your Heavenly Father is the same. He’s so much greater! So, much more loving! So much more generous than anyone we’ve ever seen before.