The Story 

The familiar story, often called the Parable of the Prodigal Son, reveals important insights that can help us appreciate the importance of cultivating thankful hearts, even though the story never explicitly mentions gratitude or giving thanks. An attitude of entitlement is not directly referenced either. The central message comes through a dramatic demonstration of the Father’s amazing grace. If read attentively, you will recognize the contrast between the Father’s outrageous grace and the attitudes of his two sons. The contrast between an attitude of gratitude and an attitude of entitlement becomes almost unmistakable. 

¹¹ To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. ¹² The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. 

¹³ “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. ¹⁴ About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. ¹⁵ He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. ¹⁶ The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. 

¹⁷ “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! ¹⁸ I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, ¹⁹ and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ 

²⁰ “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. ²¹ His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. 

²² “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. ²³ And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, ²⁴ for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began. 

²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, ²⁶ and he asked one of the servants what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’ 

²⁸ “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, ²⁹ but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. ³⁰ Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’ 

³¹ “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. ³² We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”
Luke 15:11-32 

The Younger Son and his Father 

Jesus was a marvelous storyteller. This story appears to be simple and clear. The father obviously represents our heavenly Father. His unwavering love, patience, kindness, goodness, and forgiveness stands out from the beginning to the end. All of those elements combine to illustrate God’s amazing grace. Even describing it as “amazing” seems inadequate. 

To Jesus’ original audience, it was outrageous grace. They would have understood the younger son’s message to his father to be both shocking and insulting because he basically told his father, “I wish you were dead.” Jesus’ listeners would have expected and urged the father to beat, banish, and disown this son. The son’s actions had disgraced the entire village. 

Yet this father agreed to his request while continuing to love him and hope that he would repent and return at some unknown day in the future. When the younger son was finally broken, he repented and turned back to his father. Amazingly, his father welcomed him with open arms, without a hint of rebuke, no thought of making him a servant, no discipline, no trial period in which the son needed to prove his sincerity—just acceptance and love. The Father immediately put a ring on his finger, symbolizing that the young man had been restored to his former status as his son. His gracious words expressed his heart: 

²² Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. ²³ And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, ²⁴ for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found. 

This story is a graphic picture of God’s outrageous grace, forgiveness, and love revealing what happens when rebellious sons and daughters of God turn back to God by going all in for Jesus. The familiar story is a beautiful illustration of the gospel. The father ran to embrace his son, partly to protect the son from the angry villagers. This father had to pick up the hem of his robe and run in a manner that the culture considered undignified for a man of his stature. The father’s undignified sprint would have redirected public criticism from the son to the father. He was deflecting the shame from the son onto himself, essentially paying the price for his son’s sin. Clearly, his youngest son now appreciated his status as a son and his father’s love he previously had taken for granted. He no longer believed he was “worthy” (verses 19 and 21) of the privileges associated with being a child of his father. 

The Older Son and his Father 

The restoration of his younger brother to the status of a son would be particularly significant for the older son. The younger brother had already received his share of the estate. Consequently, everything his younger brother received from this point forward would have to be deducted from what otherwise would have gone to his older brother. 

When the older son returned from working in the field, he was shocked to learn that his younger brother had returned, and his father was hosting a lavish party for the entire village. The older son was offended and indignant. He refused to join the celebration, causing his father to lose face again by having to leave the party in order to plead with his oldest son. The older son protested that his father was treating him unfairly. 

²⁹ All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. ³⁰ Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf! 

We sympathize with the older son because everything he said was true. He was the diligent and obedient son who had stayed home and worked hard every day while the younger son partied and wasted the family’s assets. Even the cost of the party would come out of his inheritance. Outraged, he snarled at his father: “…you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!” 

The father confirmed his oldest son had been dutiful and obedient. Yet he reminded him of a deeper truth, that everything he owned also belonged to him. He also re-framed his brother’s return, “your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost but now is found!” The story ends without telling us whether or not the older son honored his father’s wishes by joining the celebration. 

There is one essential detail that must be considered before we are able to fully appreciate the story. The first thing the oldest son said to his father was, “All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to.” He had cultivated a “slave mentality,” not the attitude of gratitude that we would expect of a beloved son. He recounted how he always obeyed the master’s commands and did his work like a good slave. Apparently, he viewed his father as his master rather than his Abba (Daddy). Consequently, he had never even considered exercising his privileges as a son by inviting his friends over to grill steaks and play cards. Slaves do not do such things. 

Gratitude not Entitlement 

What did the two brothers have in common besides having the same father? They appeared to have different personalities and their lives certainly had followed different trajectories. Yet, there is at least one similarity that can help us understand the story at a deeper level. Both brothers manifested attitudes of “entitlement.” The younger son felt entitled to his share of the estate. He even dared to say to his father, “I want my share of your estate now” which was shocking. It was not socially acceptable nor the intent of the law. In fact, his request was an outrageous expression of his mindset: he had an attitude of entitlement. 

The oldest son, on the other hand, never asked for anything, not even to invite his buddies over for a Super Bowl party. Instead, he did what slaves do; he kept slaving away. He must have believed that his dad “owed” him preferential treatment because of his hard work. In other words, he believed his hard work entitled him to more of his father’s love and wealth. In his heart, he believed he had earned his father’s love and his inheritance. He did not see them as a gift. Rather he felt entitled to them. He didn’t want a gift (grace); he wanted a paycheck. His “works” mentality had fostered his sense of entitlement. He rejected grace and sought to relate to his father on the basis of his performance. 

The brothers both expressed their belief that their father owed them, just in different ways. The younger brother, however, changed his mind. He repented. He was broken. In the midst of a crisis, he remembered that his father consistently treated his servants with kindness and generosity. He hatched a plan to return to his home and ask his father to take him on as a hired hand, knowing he did not deserve even that. In other words, he knew his only hope was grace — that his father would extend grace to him instead of giving him what he deserved — condemnation and rejection. 

The older brother, on the other hand, felt he was entitled to special consideration. But he had no appreciation for his father’s love and grace. The story ends with him still outside and we do not learn whether he embraced grace or simply became increasingly bitter and resentful toward his father. 

Imagine how different the story would have been if both brothers had nurtured thankful hearts. If, over the years, they had frequently recognized their blessings and thanked their father for his generosity, love, and care, the story would have been very different. The younger brother may never have asked for his share of the inheritance because he was grateful for his father’s generosity. He would have realized how good his life was and enjoyed a closer relationship with his dad. 

The older brother may have flourished in the freedom he enjoyed as a son instead of living like a slave. He would have thanked his dad for his generosity instead of trying to earn what he already had been given. He, too, would have enjoyed a closer relationship with his father. 

The father’s love and grace are consistent throughout the story, but it required the younger brother to hit rock bottom before he “came to his senses” and turned again to his father. The older brother was still oblivious to his father’s love and grace when the story ended. The tragic truth is that both sons missed out on having a life-giving relationship with their father for much of their lives because they failed to cultivate thankful hearts. 

An attitude of entitlement is a spiritual cancer. Cancer may manifest different symptoms, as illustrated by these two brothers, but they shared the same cancerous root of entitlement. Like cancer, an attitude of entitlement is subtle and can continue to grow undetected for years. The cancer of entitlement can be terminal, twisting the glorious gospel of grace into a pseudo religion characterized by guilt and works-righteousness. Without thankful hearts we inevitably become rebels or slaves, not disciples of Jesus. 

The antidote for this spiritual cancer is available to all. 

• A thankful heart requires humility and self-discipline. Ask the Holy Spirit for his help. And always remind yourself and others that a thankful heart is incompatible with a sense of entitlement. 

• If you believe God owes you, there is nothing to thank God for. You cannot receive salvation if you think you have earned it or deserve it. 

• Giving thanks is simple. However, offering thanks to God must become habitual, intentionally repeated until a thankful attitude takes root in your heart. 

• A thankful attitude will keep you from taking God’s grace and love for granted and brings increasing joy.

THINKING IT THROUGH

“But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me". Psalm 50:23 

THE TRUTH: The Lord has given us myriads of priceless gifts. 

THE CHALLENGE: Disciples respond by cultivating thankful hearts. 

Each part of every four-part challenge concludes with a "Thinking it Through” segment which consists of a list of Scriptures related to the topic being considered, questions for group discussion and personal reflection, and notes. Each of the twelve challenges will end with an exercise to guide you through the process of naming lies, believing the truth, and clarifying the personal implications and applications of the truth to your life. Truth, if believed, must be lived, and living the truth brings personal transformation (Kingdom living). Please consider this section as a tool to help you to understand the truth, not as a test or as busy work. 

Related Scriptures 

2 Corinthians 9:15 ¹⁵ Thank God for this gift [Jesus, Grace, Gospel] too wonderful for words! 

Psalm 28:7 ⁷ The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. 

Colossians 3:16-17 ¹⁶ Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. 

John 1:16-17 ¹⁶ From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 

Luke 10:21 ²¹ At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way. 

Psalm 79:13 ¹³ Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever and ever, praising your greatness from generation to generation. 

Psalm 75:1 ¹ We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds. 

Daniel 2:23 ²³ I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and strength. You have told me what we asked of you and revealed to us what the king demanded. 

1 Chronicles 16:4 ⁴ David appointed the following Levites to lead the people in worship before the Ark of the Lord—to invoke his blessings, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. 

1 Chronicles 16:8 ⁸ Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. 

1 Chronicles 17:16-17 (King David’s Prayer of Thanks) ¹⁶ Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? ¹⁷ And now, O God, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! You speak as though I were someone very great, O Lord God!” 

Psalm 119:7 ⁷ As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should!

Questions 

You are encouraged to use these questions for group discussion or personal reflection. Respond to the questions that are most relevant or interesting to you (I urge you to write your responses in a journal or notebook). 

1. In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus seems to invite us, the listeners, to consider which brother we most identify with. Read the story again and determine which brother best represents your “tendencies.” On a scale of 1-10 with the Younger Brother (rebel) as 1, and the Older Brother (slave) as 10, where would you place yourself? Then write, explaining why that spot reveals your tendencies. 

2. Part C contrasts an attitude of gratitude with an attitude of entitlement. Are these qualities mutually exclusive or can they co-exist in a disciple? Why or why not? 

3. This Part of Challenge #3 describes an attitude of entitlement as a “spiritual cancer.” Is this overstating the danger? Reflect on the meanings of grace and entitlement. Can one feel heartfelt gratitude for something they believe they deserve? 

4. Is it possible to develop an attitude of entitlement without being aware of it? How would you respond if a trusted friend suggested that you showed signs of having an attitude of entitlement?

5. We started Challenge #3 by considering the natural flow of the Christian faith: GRACE - GRATITUDE - GOOD WORKS. Can an attitude of entitlement compliment this flow or are they mutually exclusive. 

6. We have consistently referred to “heartfelt” gratitude and “thankful hearts.” Both gratitude and giving thanks are an expression of our hearts and more of a cultivated attitude than a feeling. Would you describe a sense of entitlement in the same way? Is it an expression of the heart? 

7. A lot of space has been given to discussing and understanding the difference between heartfelt thanks and entitlement. Do you think too much emphasis has been given to warning that entitlement is both subtle and dangerous? Write a paragraph on supporting this approach or a paragraph on why it is not needed. 

8. Why is being grateful and giving thanks often associated with humility? What attitude or actions do you think could be associated with entitlement? 

9. Can you point to any teaching or example of Jesus that exemplifies thanksgiving beyond what was mentioned in Part C? Try to cite two additional passages where Jesus speaks or demonstrated gratitude or giving thanks. 

Notes 

The Tabernacle 

After God liberated the Hebrew slaves, they began their journey to the promised land. Their first and most important layover on their journey was at the base of Mt. Sinai where the people camped in tents for many months. This was where they encountered God more personally and received their basic training (the Ten Commandments/moral law). But a second major event occurred there. God revealed his plans for the tabernacle, a kind of prefabricated and portable temple in which Yahweh would live. The people carefully followed God detailed instructions and constructed an elaborate and beautiful tent. Not only would God dwell in that tent, but it was the place where the ceremonial law (sacrifices, religious festivals, the priestly ministries, worship, etc.) would take place (many of those ritual laws are contained in the book of Leviticus). 

Unlike ancient temples in which idols were believed to dwell, the tabernacle was not made of bricks, stones, and mortar. Israel’s God was going to live in a tent just as his people lived in tents. His plan was to dwell among them and accompany them on their journey. Yet his tent was special (holy, sacred, distinct). It was constructed with voluntary gifts from his people. The outer court was 100 cubits (approximately 150 ft.) by 75 feet (50 cubits), which was mostly open space. Three metals were used for furnishings and framing: bronze, silver, and gold. The entrance aways faced the East. The first thing you would see when entering was the altar for burnt offerings. The sacrificial system taught the people that sin led to death, and so the life of an animal was a substitute for human sacrifice. Thus, the altar in front of the inner courts reminded people that coming closer to God, including worship, required a sacrifice. It prefigured the final sacrifice of Jesus. 

The inner courts consisted of the Holy Place which was separated by a curtain from the place where God resided, the Holy of Holies (or the Most Holy Place). This innermost court contained the Ark of the Covenant, a chest plated with gold that contained the two stone tables with the Ten Commandments, a bowl of manna, and the rod of Aaron that had budded, reminders of God’s faithfulness and love. The lid was solid gold and was called the Mercy Seat, God’s throne. The Ark was set between two sculptures of cherubim (angles). 

When the tabernacle was completed while the people remained at the base of Mt. Sinai, everyone watched as the cloud that had been covering the top of the mountain (see Ex 19:16-20, Ex 40:34-36) moved from the top of the mountain and came to rest above the Holy of Holies. God’s glory filled the tabernacle. At night the cloud became like flames rising from the tabernacle and when daylight came the flames turned into a cloud again. 

The Lord had pitched his tent among the people. Their King became their neighbor. God had given instruction on how the camp was to be organized. The tabernacle was always set up first, in the middle of the camp. The people, divided into twelve tribes, always set up their tents with the entrances facing the tabernacle. Every morning the first thing people would see when they exited their tent was the cloud, signifying God was present. Each tribe had an assigned position: three tribes on each of the four sides of the tabernacle. And when the cloud would move from over the tabernacle to the edge of the camp, it was the signal to take down the camp (including the tabernacle) and follow the LORD as he led his people to their next campsite (Ex 40:36-38). In this way, God led the people on their journey, just as God journeys with us and leads us via his Spirit as we navigate the Jesus Way.

Copyright © 2024 Don Waite

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