Despised Riches
Romans 2:3-4 MKJV
(3) And, O man, the one judging those who do such things, and practice them, do you think this, that you shall escape the judgment of God?
(4) Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, and the forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
Once there were three sons of a king, one of which was several years older than the other two who were twins. The first born upon completing his basic education determined that he would separate himself from the restricting life of a prince and instead live in freedom and independence. He took a large portion of his inheritance and went to a foreign land where he could not be recognized or followed. Completely disregarding and despising his heritage he lived as a degenerate, wasting his money on meaningless consumption until there was none left and he was among those asking for money on the corners and sleeping under the stars. After some time in this state of deprivation, his father by chance became aware of his whereabouts and presented this information to his remaining sons who had by this time completed graduate studies and were faithfully serving in his kingdom. He told them that he needed help with preparation of an appropriate reception for their wayward brother. Each was told to outline exactly how their brother’s treatment should be and present this plan on short notice.
Before receiving his sons’ directives for their brother, though, the king went ahead and gave specific instructions to his chief assistant that documents received from each of the twins should be carried out to the smallest detail. Instead of being executed on behalf of their older brother, though, each plan would be directed towards the one who wrote it. While the wayward son had obviously violated his wishes and despised his provision and riches, the king knew that his remaining sons, while not as overtly, had erred themselves in many ways for which they had already received his mercy and forgiveness. Prestige, honor and authority would be theirs as royalty, but the greatest lesson for them to learn would be mercy, that the measure to which they could apply mercy and forgiveness would be the measure to which they would receive it in their own times of failure. Though they had remained within their father’s favor, never having turned their back on him, to negatively judge their brother at this time would be the same as despising the forgiveness and mercy that had been extended towards them in their own shortcomings. Whether a welcome party or a rejection with punishment, whatever their plans for their brother would prove to be their own experience.
There is not one of us that by our own virtue and moral perfection are deserving of anything less than complete destruction. However, it is so wonderful to experience the incredible presence of the Lord and to know His favor and provision in countless areas of our lives. This close proximity to Him, though, is due alone to the mercy and grace of his goodness. If we’ve turned our back on any sinful activity it has only been that His incredible long-suffering has made this possible. He has been faithful to see us in Christ, though our behavior might have often stated otherwise. Now, to administer judgment on anyone that is in need of the same mercy we’ve received would be the same as despising the great treasure that’s been gifted to us at the cross. An embrace of our Father’s free gift of righteousness in Christ will have its greatest evidence in the display of mercy and forgiveness given rather than just received. The more this gift is treasured the more it will be extended towards so many others in need of it themselves. For that brother that may have turned his back on his inheritance in Christ there will ever be a place of reception, honor, love and mercy in the heart and life of the one who has truly valued their own undeserved place by the Father.