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A prodigal God



Can God be prodigal?

Definition:
- spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant
- having or giving something on a lavish scale

Richard Sibbes again: "In Christ there is not only abundance, but redundance, a diffusive and spreading goodness... as in the sun to send forth beams. As Christ is full of grace and truth... so there is an overflowing of all that is good for our good. He that could multiply bread for the body, he can multiply grace for our soul. If he gives life, he gives it in abundance (John 10:10). If he gives the water of life he gives rivers, not small streams. If he gives peace and joy... his scope is to fill up our joy to the full. As he is able to do for us far more abundantly than we are able to think or speak (Eph. 3:20)." (Third Sermon on the Song of Songs)

What exactly is this abundance? Sibbes describes it, as the Bible describes it, as a feast (Isa. 25:6; 55:1-2; Prov. 9:1-5; Matt. 8:11; 22:4; 25:10: Rev. 19:9). And what exactly is that feast? Jesus himself. "All the several graces and comforts we have, and the several promises whereby they are made over and conveyed unto us, are but Christ dished out in several manner" (Sibbes, Third Sermon) And how exactly do we partake of this feast? "The vessels wherein Christ conveys his dainties are the ministry of the Word and sacraments. By the Word and sacraments we come to enjoy Christ and his comforts and graces" (Third Sermon).

So what is our response to be? To go to church and happily dig into the feast and enjoy Him together. "We see then that we cannot please Christ better than... by cheerfully taking part of his rich provision. It is an honour to his bounty to fall to" (Third Sermon).
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