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My thoughts: Jesus taught using parables to help the listener use their imagination. He used things that were very familiar to his listeners to make a point. His main point is always how the Kingdom of God operates as opposed to how this is world does. One of the parables I found interesting was that of the man who had two sons (Luke 15:11-32). The younger son came to his father with a request “give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.” We generally say the son was talking of the inheritance that would fall to him after the death of the father. I don’t think so; follow me for a second. The father’s living is not his properties, rather it is the “earnings” that he receives; how he affords taking care of all under his care. For example, if the father was a farmer (we are not told how this father made his living) then the harvest would net him an income. From that income he would then pay the servants and allot portions to his sons from his profits, right? Even today, when a child is born into a Jewish household (well established families), a bank account is opened the very same day or when the social security is known in the child’s name for their future. This is what the son is saying, the portion that goes to him. Notice the father divided his living(income), not property (all that the father has) to the two sons. As you know the young son squandered all his portion. When he was poverty stricken, he decided to return to his father’s house instead of starving to death where he was. At his return the father showed tremendous forgiveness towards him and took him back in, restored him to his position within the household and threw a party for him. The older brother, who had also received from the father, was upset at all the happenings. When asked why he was angry, he pointed out how he had stayed and did his duty as a son but was never shown such appreciation/a party as the younger brother. The father then answered “Son, thou art ever with me, and all I have is thine.” If the father had given the boys their inheritance (all that the father had) then he would not have had anything to make that claim. Musing again……

Lesson: Likewise, the Father in heaven has forgiven us, given us the ability to become sons of God (those who have become born again and trust in Christ) after all the crazy (riotous) living we were doing in the world. We believed and confessed with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, then submitted to His Lordship. Now we have an inheritance reserved for us in heaven; but while we are still on this earth, there are portions of God’s riches (goods)that fall unto us; God meets our needs and gives us the desires of our hearts as they are within His will.

Problem: we forget ourselves sometimes and just go buck wild as if we do not have a Christ, spending what we get in riotous living, then cry out to the Father, help me.

Solution: Lean not upon your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your steps.