“And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.” (Luke 15:14 KJV)
“…and he began to be in want.” Literally to “be destitute” or to “suffer need”.
You know, it’s amazing. For all the lessons on reckless living. For all the lessons on disrespecting our elders. For all the lessons on leaving what we knew behind. None of these flipped the switch to initiate a change. What did? He began to be in need… Some say that wild living is only for a season. Who do you think brought that famine? How many times throughout the old testament do we see the Lord bringing a famine to get a point across? Who do you think was lifting this very situation up to God for his review? How many of us come before the Lord broken asking for his intervention and his review of the situation? You see, that’s just it. What limits that season? What limits how long this is going to go on for? I’ve mentioned before that it’s the evolutionists that have no problem with eternity. Turns out those that do things their own way don’t have a problem with eternity either. They can keep on doing what they like ongoing. In fact, with better management skills there is no reason that this needs to end any time soon. Yet, here we are. …and he began to be in need. Do we recognize the hand of the Lord long before we see a physical return, repentance, or a course correction of any kind?
The word does not say to cast your cares (ESV says “anxieties”) on him (see 1 Peter 5:7) without reason. It’s more than lightening your load. It’s more than a means of exercising your faith. When we come before the Lord in real need, he is able to do wayyyyy beyond what we can conceive of, much less expect (see Ephesians 3:20). Do we actually think that this son was the only one in need? What need did the father have to know that his son was still alive? Nevermind the inheritance, the disrespect, and the lost fortune. Is his son still alive!
“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15:10 KJV)