What brought the father joy was not the older son’s service but simply his presence—having his son with him. This was what the father cared about most, not his property or which son received more. While the sons were fixated on their father’s wealth, the father was fixated on his sons. This is what they failed to understand, and it is what LIFE FROM GOD and FOR GOD fail to grasp. God’s gifts are a blessing and his work is important, but neither can nor should replace God as our focus.
