If you're like me, you love good deal. Not just bargain shopping, but when you manage to cut a great deal without giving anything up in return. So if you can identify with these kinds of deals, you'll understand the prodigal son's scheme when he decided to return home.

 

There were three kinds of servants in those days: day workers who were paid on a day-to-day basis; hired servants who worked for long hours on the estate but lived in town with independence intact; bond servants who lived on the estate and give all of themselves to serving the family.

 

When prodigal son hit rock bottom, it's interesting that his planned apology involved asking if he could be like a hired servant. Why not a grateful bond servant? Some commentators suggest that he was trying to negotiate the deal – a way to get paycheck and keep his independence as well.

 

Often we approach God like, "I'll serve You but You can't take my freedom away." It may seem like a good deal, but God's deal is so much better. Just like the boy's father, His arms are ready and willing to receive repentant sinners as part of His family. There could be no better deal and no better way to serve Him.