This parable is found in the book of Luke, chapter 15 verse 11. Review the story for the children and compare it to when a saved person takes the gifts that have been given to him like an inheritance and goes into the world to use it. And, what happens when we have sinned against God as Christians.
In this story the youngest son is like you and me. He was born into a family just like we have been born into God's family if we're Christians. We have an inheritance. We can use it as we please, but God gave it to us to better serve Him.
What is our inheritance? It's the abilities and talents, and body that God has given us so we can fulfill His plan for our life. You have been given gifts by God to fulfill the plan for you're life. Maybe you're better at something than anybody else is. That may be a gift that God has given you that he wants you to use for Him.
God does not intend for us to use the gifts he has given us for other things in this world. His purpose is for us to use those gifts to serve Him. God does not intend for you to waste your gifts.
When the lost son used his gifts for the world, they were soon gone. His father could not replace them. If he would have stayed at home with his father, he wouldn't have used them up so fast. When you serve the Lord nothing is wasted. Things seem to last longer. When a person tithes 10 percent of their income, their income seems to last longer than the Christian who doesn't tithe.
When the lost son joined up with the citizen of another country, he ended up being treated worse than the pigs. If you decide you'd rather serve the world than serve your heavenly father, be careful and remember the pigs.
After feeding the pigs for while the lost son recognized he would be better off as a servant of his father. There's a big difference between being a son, and being a servant. As a son he was entitled to an inheritance. As a son he had a job, a plan for his life. But as a servant, he worked only as a slave. He had no plan, no job, and no inheritance.
As the lost son finally decided he would go to his father and ask forgiveness, everything in his life began to change for the better. Remember this, nothing started to change until he decided to confess his sins and ask forgiveness.
As he went to his father, he was recognized by his father a long way off. His father was probably expecting him, who knows? He was given a robe, a ring, and some shoes. These three items mean more than just a robe a ring and some shoes. A robe was only given to someone of royalty. When the son asked for forgiveness his father treated him as royalty. When we asked our heavenly father for forgiveness, it pleases Him so much that he wants to treat us the same way.
A ring is a sign that he belongs to the family. When a man and woman get married they exchange rings. That's because they’re starting a family. By owning a ring, the son now has proof that he belongs to the family.
Finally, the shoes are necessary so that the son can work. You can get a lot more work done wearing shoes that if you're barefoot.
Also the oldest son got a little upset with his brother. That's because he's just like you and me. He, you, and I need to learn how to treat our brothers and sisters. We need to learn to forgive like the father forgave, and like our Heavenly Father forgives us.
Question: how many times did the son have to be born into the family? Answer: only once.
Question: how many times do we have to be born into God's family? Answer: only once.
When the lost son sinned against the father, he was not thrown out of the family. He wasn't even thrown out of the family after he joined up with another family. He was still his father's son.
No matter if you even join the devil's family, and live the way that family lives, if you're one of God's children, and He is your father, He will always welcome you home and treat you as royalty.
Just think what it's going to be like we get to heaven. Some celebration.