A Will, But No Way

The wayward Hilton sisters are paying dearly for their folly. Paris and Nicky Hilton are out billions of dollars. Their grandfather, Barron Hilton, deeply disturbed by the antics that he says have brought shame to the family, has largely written them out of his will. Ninety-seven percent of his of billions is going to charity, and the girls will receive only five million each—no small figure, but a thin slice of the elder Hilton’s astonishing fortune.

At last some wealthy parent has had the nerve to bring inheritance into line with behavior. Sometimes even inherited fortunes are squandered and lost forever as in the case of the so-called Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. This account shows that the younger of two sons—boys raised in wealth and comfort—abandoned the family and farm for profligate living in a foreign land. While most preaching is on the younger rebel who is incorrectly thought to have everything restored on his hunger-motivated return home, the real lesson is that Dad, when forced to divide the inheritance, gave both boys their share. Luke 15:12 says, "He divided to THEM his living" (emphasis mine). The prodigal came home to a steak dinner, a new suit and shoes and a ring on his finger. However, the whole farm was the unprodigal son’s as Luke 15:31 declares. "And [the father] said to him, ‘Son, you are ever with me and ALL THAT I HAVE IS YOURS" (emphasis mine). In fact, it appears that come bedtime, the prodigal son was sleeping in the unprodigal son’s farmhouse, and the next morning, he’d be working as a hired hand on his older brother’s farm.

It is time to revise the faulty thinking that confuses restoration with reward. While lost fellowship may be renewed in a repentant moment, wasted time, money and energy are not restored.

As I have heard of so many rebellious children from Christian homes, a new strategy has recently formed in my mind. If you have a total rebel in your family, try this. Call him or her in and say, "We have worked hard, and we have served the Lord. We’ve not wasted money; we have saved and scrimped to give you food, shelter and clothing. Now you seem to ignore this, and your spiritual obstinance and lifestyle contradict everything we have stood for and everything we’ve lived and saved for. We remind you that rebellious children are toying with an early death as Eph. 6:2-3 says, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.’ Further, since you don’t care about us and our standards and have turned your back on us, tomorrow we are visiting our lawyer and writing you out of the will. And we are also calling the insurance agent and removing you as beneficiary. You will get nothing."

If Mr. Hilton can do it, why not any grieved and shamed parent? I guarantee that you’ll get the rebel’s attention and maybe even a revision of their lifestyle since some people have their conscience only in their pocketbook.

Dave Virkler