Luke 15:12
“And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.”
The parable of the Prodigal Son has several lessons which it can teach. Every time this story is read, it should break the heart of the reader because of the potential that was wasted. It is always tragic when potential is wasted because of foolish actions. I find there are five lessons in this parable that teach how potential is wasted.
First, using relationships for personal gain will waste one’s potential. This younger son said to his father, “…give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.” This younger son cared less about giving to his relationship with his father or brother; instead, he used relationships for personal gain. When you make every relationship about what you gain from them, then you will start wasting your potential. Relationships should never be about what you can get from them, but what you can give to them. When a young man or woman uses a relationship to gain personal pleasure, they will ruin the potential they could have gained from staying pure. When married couples make their relationship about personal gain, they waste the time to build a meaningful relationship. When one uses friendships for personal gain, they waste the potential of meaningful relationships and become known as one who uses people for personal gain.
Second, being unappreciative of previous generations contributions will waste one’s potential. The younger son didn’t care about the contributions his father made to give him what he had, but all he wanted was what belonged to him. Don’t waste your potential by not giving credit to the contributions of the previous generations. Don’t tear down the previous generation’s contributions in order to build your own legacy. Tearing down others to build your own legacy will quickly destroy your potential.
Third, desiring unearned honor will waste one’s potential. The younger son wanted the honor his dad earned without earning it himself. You must always keep the mentality that your honor will come one day after you spent years earning it. You don’t gain honor because you think you deserve it, but you gain honor by earning it.
Fourth, being careless with money will waste one’s potential. This younger son used money as if it would always be there only to find out that it will run out. You will waste your potential if you are not careful with how you spend your money. Always remember that one dollar spent here and there eventually adds up. Be frugal and spend money wisely.
Fifth, not budgeting his life wasted his potential. This younger son spent his whole life and never took into consideration there was a tomorrow. Budget your life. Always remember that what you spend in your life today will cause you not to be able to use it tomorrow. So, spend the life you have wisely so that you always have something to do in life tomorrow. Take the mentality that you will save some experiences in life for when you are older. If you spend your life today experiencing tomorrow’s experiences, then you will have no enjoyment for today.
Everyone has potential, but if they waste it they will find their lives in ruin. Let these five areas be lessons for you to learn how not to ruin the potential God has given you.