Have you ever earnestly longed for a more simple life? Have you longed to cut away the red tape of our 21st century lives? Have you yearned for less drama and more simple, straightforward relationships?
The desire for simplicity in life is admirable. But we must be careful not to let our hunger for simplicity rob us of the true depth of life. Penny and Sparrow, the Austin-based duo, masterfully express this concept through their song “Honest Wage”, a retelling of the prodigal son story from the perspective of the elder brother.
In the song, the elder brother admits his anger towards his father for throwing a lavish celebration for his prodigal brother. He laments that “You never threw one for me.” His heart is not in the right place though and he knows it. He tells his father that he wishes it was “easier to kiss you on the mouth, like it is to work hard and earn an honest wage.” He desperately wants a relationship with his father but can’t transcend his own transactional mindset that requires a fair balance of give and take. He sees their relationship as a business agreement. He stays while his brother leaves, he works hard while his brother squanders, and he expects to earn his father’s love and approval because of what he does. He doesn’t understand that his father’s love for the prodigal brother is not based on merit or is a wage that is owed to him based on services rendered. It is an unconditional affection because of their relationship as father and son.
The elder brother recognizes that there is a special relationship between his father and his prodigal brother and despite his anger at the situation he admits that “I wanna be more like him.”
The song is an artful expression of the central theme of the Gospel: that God desires a relationship with us, not just a business transaction or legal agreement. We do not endear ourselves to God by our good works and God does not extend his love as an “honest wage”. He extends his love as a free gift which leads us to an intimate relationship with him. The elder brothers of the world; the pharisees, the hard-working, well-intentioned, law-abiding, religious zealots; don’t understand this dynamic. When we bristle at the thought of a condemned murderer coming to faith in Christ hours before his death, after a lifetime of evil, we are buying into the elder brother’s perspective. If the grace of God, extended to others we deem undeserving, annoys us, chances are high that we have temporarily forgotten what the Gospel is. We have forgotten that true simplicity is a life lived in relationship with God. That requires coming to grips with the complications of vulnerability, trust, and faith. It’s not always easier to kiss someone on the mouth, like it is to work hard and earn an honest wage. But it’s worth it in the end.