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Dr Nick Ohizu The Voice of God

In the same text of the parable of the prodigal son, we discover the different kinds of brothers that you find in the kingdom.

All of them were created by God and somehow function in their own domain.

The diversities of personalities found in the kingdom makes it obvious that even though we may come from the same womb, background, village, town, city or even go to the same church, our behaviours are different.

The diversities in our behaviours inform our decisions and subsequently influence the outcome of our destinies.

The ark which is an allegory of the church contained a diversity of animals for 40 days and 40 nights.

In that season, none of them ate each other.

God in his wisdom was using that scenario to help us understand that his kingdom is big enough to contain every one of us irrespective of our backgrounds, temperaments, diet and character.

The animals stayed in the ark accommodating each other’s deficiencies without any record of warfare. This is a proof that we can live in peace if we choose to.

Family, city, nation and leaders can choose to operate and treat each other with respect and decency understanding that peace is only achievable by choice and acceptance. The text will present the three kinds of brothers and how best we can relate with them.

To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living” [Luke 15:11-13 NLT].

The prodigal

A prodigal is defined as a person who spends money recklessly and wastefully. The first brother mentioned as the younger son is popularly known as the prodigal. We always find people like this in every family or church set up.

These are the kind of people that somehow find sudden prosperity and are never apologetic in their wayward spending.

The prodigals are known for reckless lifestyles and most of the time their recklessness is a product of God’s blessing.

They must remember who blessed them and never allow the father’s blessing to finance their departure from home. The tendency to leave church or leave God when prosperity comes is very high nowadays. However, we must recognise that if God brought the blessing, God is needed to sustain it.

Walking away increases the chance of losing everything. We must be like king David who said “in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.” [Psalm 30:6]

Regardless of the wasteful nature and mistakes of the prodigal, it never destroyed his capacity to remain a son. It is always the big brothers that believe that the prodigal never deserves a second chance but God begs to differ. The prodigal is still a son.

Our identity as sons of God can never be destroyed by our mistakes. The brothers must find a common ground with the father so that the prodigals can come home. If you happen to find yourself in this category, please use this as an invitation to return back to God and to church.

The angry brothers

“The older brother was angry and would not go in. His father came out and begged him” [Luke. 15:28] NLT

The angry brothers or “angry birds” as I usually call them are the category of people who are upset that God has blessed a prodigal. Putting on their sanctimonious attitude, they forget that we are all sinners saved by grace.

Being angry at someone’s blessing is a catalyst of poverty because we were advised to ‘rejoice with those that rejoice’ [Romans 12:15] which connotes sowing for our own season of blessing.

The anger of the brother emanates from the fact that he is older and believes that blessings should come by age. Not at all.

I have seen families where the youngest becomes the richest because God’s ways are not our ways. To the younger brother who got blessed, please remember to remain humble and respect your elders because prosperity is not a reason for arrogance.

To the older brother who may be angry, please remember that your time will come. God will never forget you. Do not reject the opportunity to enjoy with those whose season has come knowing that your own season will be next.

The staying brothers

“His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours” [ Luke 15:31 NLT]

The staying brothers are the dependable, the committed, the stable and the faithful. Scripturally recommended in Proverbs 17:17 NKJV. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity “and Prov.18.24b. “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”.

Whether you find them as a friend or as a brother, never lose them. We all need people like this in our lives who loves at all times and stands in the days of adversity. They stick with you through thick and thin, encouraging, motivating, suffering, laughing and later on enjoys with you.

I encourage you to become the ‘Staying Brother’ whom the father will appreciate and remind that ‘all he has is yours’. The consolation is that every effort we have made to stay with God, his people and been a helper in time of need will never go unrewarded.

The person you stayed with may not reward you, but God will reward you.

Dr Nick Ohizu is the senior pastor of the Empowerment Ministries and the president of the Empowerment School of Wealth both located in Graniteside Harare. He is a successful entrepreneur with vast experience in leadership, mentorship, business and marriage consultancy with a mandate from God to change lives and bless people. Contact Dr Nick: 0772304917.