Bible Stories: A Tale of Two Brothers
There once was a farmer who had two sons. The older son was very sensible and worked hard on the farm. He was looking forward to one day having the farm as his own. The younger son did not like working on the farm at all. He was restless and wanted to go away from the farm. So he went to his father and said, “I want to go into the city and try earning my living there. Will you give me my share of our inheritence now so I can leave home and make my fortune?”
His father was very sorry to see him go but did not want to keep him on the farm if he was not happy. So he gave him his share of the money. At first the son had a wonderful time in the city. He had never had so much money to spend before so he just brought everything he wanted and did everything he wanted to do. Making his fortune had gone straight out of his head he never gave it a thought. But of course there came a time when all his money had gone and he had to look for work.
Work was hard to come by in the city at that time and the young man got hungier and thinner. At last he got work on a farm looking after the pigs. It was not like the farm he had grown up on the farmer hardly paid him anything and did not feed him either. He started to eat what the pigs were given.
Then one day he thought, “What am I doing? The pooret worker on my father’s farm is better looked after than this. I will go home and ask my father for a job.” The young man walked home getting very dirty and his feet were really sore. He looked terrible like a begger, but his father reconised him even when he was far off and came running towards him. Tears were running down his face as he embraced the son he never thought he would see again.
“Father forgive me,” he said, “I have wasted all the money you gave me. Would you let me work for you?” “Work for me,” said his father, “What nonsense, I am so happy to have you home, I never thought I would see you again.” He took him into the house and gave him a warm bath and gave him new clothes to wear. Then he gave orders to the servants to prepare a big meal even having the calf which was being fatten for a special occassion killed.
The older brother was in the field working hard as usual when he heard that his younger brother had returned home and that a big celebration meal was being prepared for him. He was cross and said, “They needn’t think I am going.” So he stayed out in the fields. The father noticed he had not returned so went out to look for him. “Come and join us in the celebrations, for your younger brother has returned,” he said.
“What’s all the fuss about,” the older son replied, “I have worked hard for you all these years I have been a good son and never caused you any trouble. You have never even given me a small party. My brother has spent all his money and come back to us like a beggar and you put on a big celebaration for him.”
His father throw his arms around him and said, “My dear son, you are always with me and everthing I have is yours. But don’t you see, it’s as if your brother has come back from the dead. Surely that is a good reason to celebrate?”
This story is about God’s love to us. He is such a loving father that he will welcome anyone back who has wondered away from him.