The Prodigal Son — Blinded by His Hormones

From Idiotic Things People Did in the Bible

But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.” Luke 15:30

What He Did

He was overcome by his own sinful desires.

Why It Was Idiotic

He left the love and security given to him by his father, and almost lost everything because of his foolishness.

Here’s the Scoop

Jesus speaks of a man who had two sons (Luke 15:11–32). The younger son, impatient and self-centered, asked for his inheritance early. His father granted the request, and the son left for a far country. There, he wasted all his wealth on reckless living. When a severe famine struck, he found himself destitute, feeding pigs and longing to eat their food.

When he came to his senses, he decided to return home, repent, and ask to be treated as a servant. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, had compassion, and ran to embrace him. The father lovingly restored him, dressing him in the best robe and hosting a feast to celebrate his return.

“Like Adam, the prodigal son was also running from God. Adam is infamous for being the first prodigal son. He left his Father’s care to serve sin and led the whole of the human race into rebellion.”

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Meanwhile, the older son, who had stayed and worked faithfully, grew angry at the celebration for his wayward brother. The father gently reminded him that all he had was already his, but it was right to celebrate because “your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.”

***

Jesus told us that this unnamed younger son wanted to visit prostitutes. Instead of waiting for a godly wife and enjoying the benefits of the marital bed, he went to a far country to get away from him—and to cool his burning desire. Paul addresses this burning dilemma in Scripture:

but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. (1 Corinthians 7:9)

He may have been able to get away from his father’s eyes, but he couldn’t get away from the eyes of his Creator. Like Adam, the prodigal son was also running from God.

Adam is infamous for being the first prodigal son. He left his Father’s care to serve sin and led the whole of the human race into rebellion.

Adam had a paradise, and he didn’t know what he had until it was gone. We can’t imagine his emotions as he stood banished from Eden, clothed in animal skins to cover his shame, with sweat beginning to form on his sinful brow.

And so it was with the prodigal son of whom Jesus spoke. He didn’t know what he had until it was gone—until he gazed with hunger at the filthy pig food at his feet:

But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ (Luke 15:17–19)

Nor do many young men and women today know what they have until it’s gone.

From Idiotic Things People Did in the Bible