What About Me?

 Welcome back! Last week, we looked at a story about a father who had two sons. The focus was on the younger son who had returned home after leaving for a period of time. If you haven't read last week's post, "Run To The Father," I encourage you to go back and read that first and then come finish reading this. This week, I want to focus on the older son in Luke 15: 25-32. He enters the story after his brother comes back home and there's a party going on for him. In verses 25-26, we see the older brother has been in the field and is walking towards the house when he hears music. So he asks one of the servants who works there what's going on. He's curious like many of us would have been and especially if there was something going on at our house. We're like how come no one told me?! The servant goes on to tell him they're having a party for his brother (v.27). Now here's where it gets interesting because we're about to hear the brother's response. I have responded like the older brother before. Maybe you have too- let's see! The brother gets angry and refuses to go near the house. His Dad comes and talks to him and tries to convince him to come in to go to the party, but he still refuses (v.28). Then, the son gets what I like to call the "What about me?" syndrome. In verses 29-30, we see him talk about hard he's worked for his Dad and how good he's been, but no one ever celebrated him and gave him a party. His brother had been out doing all kinds of wrong things and they celebrate him?! The older brother should have been happy for him, but he wasn't. Jealousy and resentment had set in. He felt what was going on was unfair and no one cared about him. He wanted no part of it. Hmmm..can anybody relate yet? I know I've been there before and still have to catch myself in my thoughts now. I saw someone else's life where it seemed like they were getting ahead and things were falling into place so nicely for them. I'm feeling like I'm behind and what's going on. I'm doing good things, but it seems like I'm being overlooked and forgotten. I want to come at it from a single woman's perspective for a minute..all these women are dating their man of God and where's mine, God? So I'm like okay, what about me? I'm doing my best to serve and please you. Then, thoughts would come like "Am I good enough? pretty enough?" All real thoughts I've had before! I knew I should have been happy for others, but deep down I wasn't. I believe we've all had these thoughts one way or another. We have to be quick to remind ourselves of what God's Word says and put it into action. I Corinthians 13:4 talks about how love does not envy. We should not get all upset and bent out of shape about what we see happening for others. He can do the same for us and we have to look around and thank God for what we do have. Romans 12:15 tells us to "Rejoice with those who rejoice." We should be excited with others when we see something good happening for them. Proverbs 14:30 reminds us that "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." When something rots, it breaks down and is not as it once was. Jealousy and envy hurt us. The older brother perhaps didn't realize he was hurting himself by not celebrating with his brother. His Dad recognized his oldest son was always with him and everything he had was his. Dad hadn't forgotten him. Our Father in heaven hasn't forgotten about us either. We haven't been overlooked, forgotten or underappreciated. We have lot to be thankful for. We can celebrate and rejoice with others.  A win for one of us is a win for all!