The Prodigal God: Part 1 (Luke 15:11-13)

Hello All,

Today’s poem has been adapted from one of Timothy Keller’s bestselling book entitled ‘The Prodigal God’.

This poem I have written is a really long one as it has 20 stanzas so I’m splitting it into Part 1 until 5.

You might think that I have gotten the title wrong as this parable is commonly known as ‘The Prodigal Son’, not ‘The Prodigal God’ but I will reveal the reason Timothy Keller renamed this parable as ‘The Prodigal God’ in Part 5.

The Prodigal God: Part 1 (Luke 15:11-13)

By Joanne Liaw Sook Ling (20^th June 2012)

There was a man who had two sons

The story begins with the younger one

Who demanded a share of his estate

His father he regarded as good as dead

His father’s name he placed at stake

He would get his land at any rate

So sure was he that it was no mistake

To tear his father’s life for his own sake

The father acquiesce his son’s demand

His land he divided between his sons

Not withholding what belonged to him

Graciously gave in to his younger son’s whim

 

The younger son gathered his wealth and left home

He set off to a distant country to roam

He drifted away from his father’s teachings

Plunged himself into wild frivolous living

TO BE CONTINUED…..

Points for Reflection:

Like the younger son in this parable,

·         Have you, at certain points of your life, left God, our heavenly Father, for worldly pursuits, entertainment and/or pleasures in your quest for self-discovery, thrill and/or meaning in life? 

·         If you have not outwardly forsaken the Christian faith, are there times when you are tempted to?

·         Do you sometimes find walking closely with God restricting on your freedom to live life your way?

·         Are you at times only interested in the material blessings which you can get out of God and could not care less about loving and pleasing him as your heavenly father?

·         If you have answered yes to any of the questions above (which I’m sure all of us would have), just take some time to talk to God and ask him to soften your heart, return to him and live the way he wants you to live.