Thoughts while Traveling
11.15.2004
Grace anyone?
big-brother bookkeeping
Jesus’ parable in Luke 15 of the prodigal son tells the story of a grace-filled father, a wayward son, and a resentful brother. Consider the elder brother’s perspective on the departure and return of his younger brother.
Little brother had taken off with his prematurely obtained portion of their father’s estate. Elder brother is angered not by little brother’s return, but by his father’s response to that return. If the father had accepted little brother back on his stated terms of “I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men," elder brother might have thought, “fair enough.” But to receive him back as a son—and as a son with honors and privileges—that was too much, it was painfully unfair.
I call the eldest son’s perspective “big brother bookkeeping”: spiritual and moral accounting that is precise and accurate and one-dimensional. Big-brother bookkeeping records actions but not attitude, deeds but not heart. Debits and credits are made and paid through works alone.
According to the eldest son’s one-dimensional bookkeeping, it was entirely unfair for his father to show favor to little brother before he had at least “made good” his debt through restitution. Receiving him coolly as a slave would have been just. But embracing and giving gifts and celebrating the return of one with an impossible debt seemed shockingly unjust, weak, and inconsistent.
Big brother bookkeeping has never, will never, make the acquaintance of grace.
Father God’s bookkeeping is not limited to one dimension: He records action and attitude, deed and heart, works and motivation. In Jesus’ parable, both sons were in the red in their father’s books. The eldest son displayed right actions, but his deeds were motivated by duty not by honor and love: “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders” (Luke 15:29).
The younger son—in the midst of his wanderings—discovered the connection between rebellion and misery and stumbled upon a truth that the eldest could not comprehend: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15.21).
To the resentful eldest the father spoke tender truth and showed concern. To the broken youngest the father opened his arms and called for celebration.
Grace rises to greet sincere and sober estimations of our sinfulness. That truth will continue to evade the understanding of those bound by big-brother bookkeeping.
Jesus’ parable in Luke 15 of the prodigal son tells the story of a grace-filled father, a wayward son, and a resentful brother. Consider the elder brother’s perspective on the departure and return of his younger brother.
Little brother had taken off with his prematurely obtained portion of their father’s estate. Elder brother is angered not by little brother’s return, but by his father’s response to that return. If the father had accepted little brother back on his stated terms of “I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men," elder brother might have thought, “fair enough.” But to receive him back as a son—and as a son with honors and privileges—that was too much, it was painfully unfair.
I call the eldest son’s perspective “big brother bookkeeping”: spiritual and moral accounting that is precise and accurate and one-dimensional. Big-brother bookkeeping records actions but not attitude, deeds but not heart. Debits and credits are made and paid through works alone.
According to the eldest son’s one-dimensional bookkeeping, it was entirely unfair for his father to show favor to little brother before he had at least “made good” his debt through restitution. Receiving him coolly as a slave would have been just. But embracing and giving gifts and celebrating the return of one with an impossible debt seemed shockingly unjust, weak, and inconsistent.
Big brother bookkeeping has never, will never, make the acquaintance of grace.
Father God’s bookkeeping is not limited to one dimension: He records action and attitude, deed and heart, works and motivation. In Jesus’ parable, both sons were in the red in their father’s books. The eldest son displayed right actions, but his deeds were motivated by duty not by honor and love: “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders” (Luke 15:29).
The younger son—in the midst of his wanderings—discovered the connection between rebellion and misery and stumbled upon a truth that the eldest could not comprehend: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15.21).
To the resentful eldest the father spoke tender truth and showed concern. To the broken youngest the father opened his arms and called for celebration.
Grace rises to greet sincere and sober estimations of our sinfulness. That truth will continue to evade the understanding of those bound by big-brother bookkeeping.
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