Focus: Little Goat Mentality

Text: Lk.15:29

"And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends."

Jesus is the master story-teller. His earthly stories are full of heavenly lessons. They reveal timeless truths for people of all times. All through the Bible we see God telling a story.

In Luke 15 we have the story of the Prodigal Son, a story involving a father and his two sons. The Greek word used for son here shows that the boys are no longer toddlers or adolescents, but grown men, adults or mature men. They have reached the age of responsibility and accountability. They can live with the consequences of their own choices and actions.

On a particular day, the younger of the two comes to the father with a request. "And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living" (Lk.15:12). That is like saying, 'Father, whatever is in your Will for me as my own inheritance, let me have it now that you are still alive. I want to be on my own and live my own life as I want it.' The father did as he requested and granted him his portion. The son leaves the country with so much wealth. In other words, he turned all his solid wealth into liquid cash, and traveled abroad to start a new life. After years, he returns to his father's house in tatters and acute penury.

Our focus is really not on the younger son, but on his elder brother. In this story we find so much waywardness and wastefulness.

As the father called for a party to celebrate his long lost but now found son, the elder son boils with anger and voices out his mind. Let us itemize his grievances:

First is the word, "Lo," an expression of shock and disappointment.

Second is the word, "serve," speaks of servitude. He says in essence, 'I am your son, but I work like a slave for you. For me, it's been all work and no play, no thanks to you.'

Thirdly, he says, 'I am well-behaved and spotless in character. I follow your orders and do your biddings. I do everything just to please you and satisfy your heart. I have never lagged behind, nor shirked my duties for a moment. To the best of my knowledge, I am very meticulous; a workaholic and a perfect gentleman.'

Fourthly, he says, 'I have been the good boy and the best slave for all these years.'

Then he concludes by saying, 'Father, for all these years of slaving for you, you have never as much as given me a little goat to party with my friends. You have treated me so unfairly. All that I ever mean to you is a beast of burden.'

He resented both his father and younger brother. He has grudges bottled up in his heart. He is bitter at heart and quite unhappy. He feels cheated and ill-favored. He has been languishing in the pit of self pity.

Here's our lesson:

He has a messy mindset. He judged his father wrongly. His younger brother asked for something and got it, but never for once has he asked his father for anything. Remember that the father divided his wealth for them, which means that he is the rightful owner of everything in his father's house. He is like a man sitting on wealth, but dying of hunger. Imagine the owner of his father's wealth asking for the gift of a little goat! He has low mentality and thinks little of himself. He is his own problem.

He thinks of service in terms of wages and rewards, and that is a wrong mindset for a son to have. A servant serves for rewards, not a son. A son is a heir, not a hireling. A son does not need to serve in order to eat. He is entitled to certain privileges whether he serves or not. All he needs is to ask.

In Jesus Christ we find the mentality of a son. He says, "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand… Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God… All things that the Father hath are mine… Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee… And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them" (Jh.3:35; 13:3; 16:15; 17:7,10). If you are God's son, then that is how to think. Our Father's wealth belongs to us. We have a share of all that He owns. Having a little goat to enjoy is not a problem at all. It is a given. In our Father's house certain things are a given. The elder brother is a son who lost faith in the family. He thought of partying with friends, not family.

In Jesus Christ we find the right work ethic. He says, "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise… For I do always those things that please him" (Jh.5:19; 8:29). Jesus Christ, as a son, came to serve and fulfill His Father's will. He never served for gains, nor served in vain. Our Father always rewards us for everything we do in His name and for His glory.

I conclude by telling you that asking is allowed. Ask the Father for anything you need. Jesus says, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it… Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (Jh.14:13,14; 16:24). Paul adds, "Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours… Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK, according to the power that worketh in us" (1Cor.3:21; Eph.3:20). Stop grudging, grumbling and complaining; just ask your Father in heaven for whatever you need, and serve Him with gladness of heart. Do away with the little goat mentality. Stop judging God wrongly. Have the mind of Christ and enjoy your spiritual privileges. Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter