Luke 15:29-32 (NKJV) So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”
We may not have seen an adult throwing a tantrum, but the son in the above passage is probably the closest thing to it, due to his jealousy and what he perceived as favouritism by his father.
This son was self-righteous, dissatisfied, resentful and judgemental towards his father and brother. How sad it is that he has totally misunderstood the father because he had not taken time to know him. He saw himself as more of a servant than a son in the family. It is impossible for anyone to fully observe the law due to the sin nature. Nonetheless, he was trying to earn his father’s love, approval and affirmation through his service. He was insecure and full of himself. Therefore, he was angry with the grace that was extended towards his brother, because he didn’t have the faintest idea or understanding of what grace is.
If we are not careful, we might unknowingly behave like this too, and burn out while trying to earn God’s love with our service because we identify ourselves as servants only. We would also develop a self-righteous attitude where we will judge every word and action of other believers. Because all of us are at different stages of spiritual growth, we will inevitably witness other Christians stumble in their walks with God. While it is easy to be judgemental and harsh on the person who has fallen, we should be gracious to restore them with a spirit of gentleness and graciousness. In fact, self-righteousness and a “holier than thou” attitude will make ourselves fall too if we are not careful.
Galatians 6:1 (Amp) Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.
It is when we can truly grasp and have the appreciation of the grace that’s extended to us by the Heavenly Father, in spite our weaknesses and imperfection, that we will extend grace to others because we ourselves have received grace.
Sermon Series: Extending Grace
警惕比你“圣洁”的态度
路加福音15:29-32 (NKJV)他对父亲说：“我服事你这多年，从来没有违背过你的命，你并没有给我一只山羊羔，叫我和朋友一同快乐。 但你这个儿子和娼妓吞尽了你的产业，他一来了，你倒为他宰了肥牛犊。” 父亲对他说：“儿啊！你常和我同在，我一切所有的都是你的； 只是你这个兄弟是死而复活、失而又得的，所以我们理当欢喜快乐。”
我们或许没见过成年人发脾气，可是上述经文中的儿子可能是最接近的，他是出于嫉妒，并且认为自己才是值得父亲所偏爱的。
这个儿子自以为是，对他的父亲和兄弟充满不满、怨恨和论断。因为他没有花时间去了解他父亲，所以完全误解了他，这是多么悲哀啊！他把自己看作更像是仆人而不是一家之子。因着罪的本性，人不可能完全遵守律法。尽管如此，他还是试图通过自己的服事赚取父亲的爱、认可和肯定。他既缺乏安全感又自以为是。因此，他对他兄弟所受的恩待感到恼怒，因为他根本不知道什么是恩典，也不明白什么是恩典。
如果我们不小心，可能在不知不觉中也会有这样的行为，并在试图透过服侍赢得上帝的爱时精疲力竭，因为我们认为自己只是仆人。我们也会养成自以为是的态度，会论断其他信徒的一言一行。每个人都处于属灵成长的不同阶段，我们不可避免地会看到其他基督徒在与上帝同行的道路上跌跌撞撞。虽然很容易对跌倒的人进行论断，但我们应该以温柔和恩慈的精神来挽回他们。事实上，如果我们不小心，自以为是和“比你更圣洁”的态度也会使我们跌倒。
加拉太书 6:16:1弟兄们，若有人偶然被过犯所胜，你们属灵的人 【你们那些对圣灵带领有回应的】就当用温柔的心【不是有那自以为是或高高在上的态度】把他挽回过来；又当自己小心，恐怕也被引诱。
只有当我们能够真正领会并欣赏天父赐给我们的恩典时，我们才会在自己有软弱，不完美的情况下仍可以将施恩给他其他人，因为我们自己已经领受了恩典。
讲章系列:延伸恩典