Prodigality noun [U] formal
Meaning: the quality of spending or using large amounts of time, money, energy or other resources, in an unwise manner. Wasteful squandering of time, money, energy etc.
Recently, during a post-prayer quiet time, I had that word 'prodigality' drop in my mind. Oh, at the time I didn't know God was trying to use it to both teach and correct me. I thought it was content for my general study. In a bit, we'll circle back to how this was meant to change me, this season.
My spirit fingers are crossed hoping this helps someone to. So let's unpack what I learned.
...That the prodigality of the Prodigal son did not start on the day he left with and squandered his inheritance. It probably started with a thought, or an admiration of similar behaviour in others or being influenced to want to live a similar life of debauchery. Whatever the catalyst, it made its way into his thoughts, crystallised in his mind, probably exhibited in minor bad behaviour, long before he asked for his inheritance...prehumous too. "And he said, “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness" Mark 7v21
So it's simplistic and pernicious to think the Prodigal Son was a sincere good boy who and one day, out of the blues, got off the bed to rudely demand for his inheritance. Seems unlikely. Not often do humans act involuntarily like we have with sleepwalking or sneezing or effects of spiritual possession. Human actions are inspired/motivated/triggered either by Internal factors (person's thoughts/will), External (duress, peer pressure, other influences) and Synthetic factors. Any of these factors could have been responsible for the Prodigal Son's action but the bible doesn't share which. What the bible did share is, after he demanded his share of the inheritance, nobody challenged him or tried to stop him. Mr P.S. had probably shown all signs of delinquency long before then.
The Loopy Thinking. So I asked how this applied to us as Christians who know this parable well thanks to Sunday school sermons, upbringing and our environment. We know not to squander anything... publicly at least. While the bible doesn't say to live an austere life, it does draw from us the need to live in moderation, especially as the less privilege need the excesses we may want to squander. So we know better. So how could we become like him, one would think. Well, we need to change our thinking of prodigality only as a noticeable, therefore avoidable event on a linear path. The path to prodigality can sometimes be a non-linear one of causality. Even tiny bad thought if not held captive have consequences. It's like intentionally tossing a tiny pebble into a crocodile infested water; walking into it because you do not see the crocodiles. Just because the crocodiles aren't on the surface doesn't mean they're not alert and waiting under the water. The pebble created an action that is still rippling even if you cannot see the effect. "To every action, there is equal and opposite reaction. Newton's 3rd Law of Motion.
So prodigality is a non-linear path of causality with outcome(s). some of which echo on (even after we repent) because of variables like time, other people and irreversible consequences like an illegitimate child, STDs, death, Mental illnesses, Wasted irrecoverable resources, lost opportunities etc.
What to do? Avoiding prodigality means looking at ourselves in the mirror of God's word daily and truthfully identifying areas of waste. Is it time? Procrastination is the waste of time. And that applied to me. I felt so convicted about how much time I had wasted pushing tasks to a later date for no good reason but laziness. Exchanging those moments for rewardless activities. Laziness is also another example of a waste of time. Abuse (physical, verbal or physiological) is waste of human resources and sometimes potential. Are you squandering God's grace over your life? Or are you wasting opportunities at work, home or in other areas of life? Perhaps it's wasting your own talent? Not monetizing it doesn't mean you can't use it especially if you have the time. Coach someone (even a little kid), use it in church. Go online and create content. Just don't waste it.
The bible shares God's distaste for waste: food, talent, resources and so on,
No comments:
Post a Comment