Serving Selflessly

Luke 15:25-32 (The Message)
 ^25-27"All this time his older son was out in the field. When the day's work was done he came in. As he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing. Calling over one of the houseboys, he asked what was going on. He told him, 'Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast—barbecued beef!—because he has him home safe and sound.'
 ^28-30"The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen. The son said, 'Look how many years I've stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!'
 ^31-32"His father said, 'Son, you don't understand. You're with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours—but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he's alive! He was lost, and he's found!'"

For Reflection
Did you ever feel taken for granted?  Perhaps that is what the stay-at-home brother felt.  But at the core, had the brother let go of the image of himself, he may not have reacted that way.  What did the brother fear that would have motivated this reaction?  Even if his father did little to communicate in a way that would have influenced the brothers confidence, faith and trust, what could the brother have done to understand his father's intention for him?  Death is never easy, even when it is the death of self-centeredness.

Pray
help us to accept the necessary death or denial of our alone selves.  Help us to live transfigured into servants, confident, hopeful, faithful followers who unwaveringly trust in you.