A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Give Me - Make Me"

 According to the law and the cultural norm of his day, he was entitled to it. It belonged to him. The only problem was that his father was still alive. He couldn't wait. He had plans and he wanted his due now.  He went to his father demanding, "father give me my inheritance." He did not even stop to think what his request was actually saying. In essence he was telling his father he wished his father were dead. But that didn't enter his mind. A "give me" attitude of the heart doesn't consider others.

Astonishingly, the father granted his son's request. In this very familiar parable (Luke 15:11-32) Jesus tells us that the young man took his money, fled to a far country where he squandered all he had in riotous living. Party on was his theme and as long as the money held out things seemed to go well. But attitudes tend to draw like kind and the friends that he surrounded himself with were of like mind, "give me."  Once the money ran out they all left. Finding himself hungry, penniless, and alone the boy came to his senses. He woke up and realized his folly and sin. Humble and repentant he returned to his father pleading, "father I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Would you make me your servant?"

The father responded to the request by wrapping his arms around the boy as he called to the servants to bring shoes, clothing and rings to the boy. He further instructed them to prepare a feast to celebrate his son's return. By all rights the father could have sent him away. From our perspective making him a servant would have been merciful and loving enough. But the father restored him to sonship. This is even more astonishing than his giving the boy his inheritance. The son's new attitude made all the difference. No longer was it "give me." Coming to his senses involved the radical change in heart attitude to "make me."

Our culture is one of entitlement and grabbing. Cultural forces teach us to grab for all that we can, demand one's rights, and insist on getting all you're due (more if possible.) We are instructed to take charge and live life our way. Unfortunately this attitude of heart is not only found in the world. It has slithered its way into the church. It is often spiritualized or camouflaged in misrepresented promises of God. We make our way to the place of prayer demanding our Heavenly Father to give us our request. We pray the prayers as if they are some sort of divine token placed into the heavenly vending machine expecting to receive exactly what we ask for. We know the promises. God is obligated to give us what we ask for. We are entitled to it!

Earlier Jesus told the crowds, "if you grab for your life you will loose it." (Matthew 10:39) The young boy in the parable illustrates this profound truth. He grabbed for it and in the end was left with nothing.  But they would not even share with him. Jesus did not stop there. He went on to say, "but those who loose their life for my sake will find it." Those who come to their senses and fall before the loving Father crying, "make me" are the ones who live. This is attitude of the Christian. This is the longing of the heart of God's people. "Make me" is our soul's desire. God will not force His will to make us holy upon us. We must be yielded, open, and desiring. Our plea must be "make me."

Making requests to God is not wrong. On the contrary He instructs us many times in Scripture to bring our requests to Him. However it is the attitude of heart that is crucial. In our requests is our heart pleading, "make me" or "give me"? Let us be sure, beloved, that ours is "Father make me."

Keep Close to Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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