The Rebellious Son

Listen, my son, to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching, for they will be a garland of grace on your head and a gold chain around your neck. - Proverbs 1:8-9 HCSB

A rich, godly man had a rebellious son who caused him much grief. All the son ever wanted to do was party, drink and run around with wild women. Though the father repeatedly tried to teach his son the advantages of righteous living, the son never listened. He was too caught up in his pleasures to hear what his father was saying.

Finally, the father called the son to his bedside and said, “My son, I am going the way of all the earth. You have never listened to me before but I am asking that you listen to this last bit of wisdom that I offer you.”

The son, a bit softened by his guilt over his rebellion, now that he saw he was about to lose his loving father, agreed to listen to his father’s advice.

“First,” the father said “if you must party, I ask only that you wait until two in the morning to go.”

The son thought that all the best parties didn’t really begin swinging until about then anyway so he easily agreed.

“Second,” the father continued “if you must womanize I ask that you wait until after ten in the morning to do so.”

The son said to himself, “What do I care when I get to play as long as I do?” So he agreed to this term.

The father died and after mourning him, the son decided to seek solace in a wild party. Remembering his promise, he didn’t go until after two in the morning. When he got there he saw the drunken state of his friends, how badly they stank and how awful they looked. He was repulsed and went home. He thought that he could find some comfort in the arms of a woman he frequented, but remembered his promise and didn’t go until after ten the next morning. Of course, she had been partying all night and when she answered the door, she was so disheveled and had such terrible breath from the alcohol and smoking that she wasn’t nearly as desirable as he had formerly thought.

Having seen his lifestyle for what it was with clear and sober eyes, he changed his ways, settled down with a good woman and lived a good and godly life thereafter.

Our Father in heaven is constantly trying to give us wise advice.[1] He is our Creator.[2] He can read the hearts and minds of men and He knows what will happen before it actually does.[3] Further, He has our good at heart.[4] He wants us to have true and lasting joy.[5] Listening to Him will make us look better, feel better and actually be better if we will only stop and listen.

[1] Proverbs 8:14; Isaiah 28:29
[2] Genesis 14:19, 22; Deuteronomy 32:6; Ecclesiastes 12:1; Isaiah 40:28; 45:18; Romans 1:25; Colossians 3:10
[3] Psalm 139: 4; Isaiah 46:9-10; Jeremiah 1:5; Jeremiah 29:10-14; Matthew 6:8; Romans 8:28-30;
[4] Jeremiah 29:11
[5] John 15:11