“My son,” the father said, “you are always with me and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found.”
Most Christians are familiar with the story of the Prodigal Son taught by Jesus. However, when we are reminded of this story, we often don’t dwell on the fact that we have a God who shares. We know that God’s mercies apply to the younger son who took his inheritance and squandered it on living for only his own desires. However, when he returned home, ready to be his father’s slave and not his son, the father welcomed him with open arms. Likewise, when the older son was angry with his father for throwing a big celebration for the prodigal son, his father showed him mercy by reminding him that all the father had, belonged to him.
For those Believers who have been long-standing in the church, how often do we take for granted that God shares everything He has with us? That’s right, He shares everything. Look again at what the father said to the oldest son, “…everything I have is yours.” What an incredible statement, everything God has he shares with us. We are God’s children and when we accept the gift of salvation from His Son, Jesus, God shares everything with us. Indeed, Paul explains in Romans 15b-18, …But you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirits that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us.
Yes, we will have times of suffering on earth, just as Jesus did. We will be made fun of when we tell others about the Gospel. People will ridicule us when we live a holy life, just as they did to God’s own Son. But what does God share with us in this life besides suffering?
Most importantly, God shared His Son and His plan for salvation with us. But God didn’t leave us alone to try to figure everything our on our own. He gave us the Holy Spirit to help guide us and show us what God wills for our lives. But let’s also not forget the day-to-day things that God shares with us while we are living on this earth.
God shares His widsom, knowledge and understanding through His Word. It’s easy to forget that when we read the Bible, we are seeing and hearing God speaking to us.
God is sharing this beautiful earth with us. He didn’t create us and then put us in a bubble to just look at His creation. Rather, He put us in the middle of it. We get the exhileration of enjoying a swim in a lake or river, a hike in the autumn forest, a breath of fresh air after a spring rain and a brisk breeze on our faces as we ski down a snowy slope. God has given us eyes to see His overwhelming creation of the night sky and earth from the mountain tops. Nature is one of God’s most diversely gorgeous gifts we can experience.
God also knew that we would need to be stimulated spiritually and mentally. This is why He gave us humor, irony, communication and community. He shares His laughter and His tears with us. He shares His commpassion, mercy, love, kindness, goodness and peace with us. He shares His protection over our lives. If God had a Christmas tree in Heaven, underneath it would be loads and loads of presents God is sharing with each and every one of us right now. In fact, all the presents would probably hide the tree!
No other god shares, only the one true God. Thank you God for sharing all you have with us.
