READ: Luke 15:11-24
“And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living” – Luke 15:12
A short-sighted son does not see the invisible, non-tangible contributions that a father makes by his presence and influence.
There are many invisible and non-tangible things that a father brings into a child’s life. How myopic can you be to think that your father’s usefulness is limited to paying your school fees?
Indeed, a short-sighted son has a limited understanding of the things he will get from his father. The prodigal son walked away from his father after asking for his “portion”.
How truly myopic the prodigal son was when he thought his father’s usefulness was limited to a portion of inheritance! What did he do with the portion of inheritance? Did he prosper with the portion of inheritance? Was he successful with a portion of inheritance? Did his life change even though he had that portion of inheritance?
Certainly not! He became poorer and lost everything even though he had gone away with a complete portion of inheritance. Obviously there were certain unseen and perhaps intangible things that his father possessed that he had not yet received. Indeed he had a portion of inheritance but he had not received the wisdom and maturity that his father had to give. Without the wisdom, prudence and understanding of a father money often amounts to nothing.
A father does not only pay school fees. A father provides stability, wisdom, direction, influence, guidance, security, safety and a host of other intangible blessings.