A Comparison In The Story Of The Prodigal Son

When I was a boy, our house was on a little hill several yards off the mail route. We could see the road alright; however, the mailbox was a long walk from our front porch. Anyway, when we saw people coming up that path, we knew they were coming to our house, because it was the only one up there.

But, what I remember most about that was all that took place from the time we saw company coming up that path until they reached our front porch. Why, you never saw so much straightening up, sprucing up and putting up. And, then there was that smile, which was always reserved for company.

I used to wonder about that then and I still wonder about it so far as most homes are concerned. Why couldn’t we have some of that when we didn’t have company?

God didn’t write that story in order to tell us about the prodigal, and He didn’t write it to teach us about the rascal who stayed at home. The reason He told that story was so we would remember the father and his big heart; the man who looked down the road and saw his son coming home and recognized him as soon as he came into view.

But, there is another lesson in that story, which is often overlooked, because it’s not mentioned. The home is there. Now, suppose that home had been repulsive to the prodigal? He wouldn’t have wanted to go home.

A home, as God planned it, consists of a father, a mother and children. And, God assigned duties to every member of the home:

To the fathers, He assigned the responsibility of bringing up the children in the training and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6: 4)

Fathers need to take notice that every time, in the Bible, that God lays the responsibility of religious teaching on the shoulders of a parent, it is always the father. That doesn’t exempt the mother, but the father is responsible. Nonetheless, while the father is out making a living, it’s the mother who commonly teaches the children right from wrong and provides the proper

She didn’t save up the whippings for Daddy when he got home; so, when Daddy got home, he could play with his children instead of getting the razor-strap and whipping them.,

By inspiration, Ezekiel quoted an old Hebrew proverb that states, “Like mother, like daughter!” (Ezekiel 16: 44)

There are little eyes about you, and they are watching night and day.

There are little ears all open, and they take in everything you say.

There are little hands all eager to do everything you do,

And there is a little lad who’s dreaming of the day he will be like you.

You are the little fellow’s idol, You are the wisest of the wise,

In his little mind, about you, no suspensions ever arise.

He believes you sincerely in all you say and do,

And he will do it your way, when he grows up to be like you.

It almost makes me shudder, when I hear my child repeat

Some idle word I’ve uttered in the language of the street.

And it sets my heart to grieving when some little fault I see

And I know beyond all doubting that he picked it up from me.

There is a bright eyed little one who knows you are always