The world is changing rapidly—socially, morally, and spiritually—yet Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son continues to speak with remarkable clarity. The phrase “riotous living” is more than an old fashioned expression; it is a window into the human tendency to drift away from God’s purpose in pursuit of independence, pleasure, or self-made truth. This reflection looks at Luke 15:13 through a modern lens, not to condemn, but to call us back to the enduring truth, love, and order found in God’s Word.
Understanding Riotous Living Through Scripture
Luke 15:13 gives us a context for what riotous living means. Jesus says:
“Not long after that, the younger son gathered everything he had, set off for a distant country, and there squandered his wealth in reckless living.”
This is the biblical picture of a prodigal—whether it describes a man or a woman, a single person, or even an entire nation. This understanding comes directly from Jesus’ words, not from personal opinion. I share this perspective with respect and without intent to offend.
Riotous Living and the Illusion of Freedom
I understand that this is the year 2025, and I was born in 1945. I was raised in a conservative home and taught traditional values, and I believe my family and I have been blessed because of that foundation. I also recognize that people have the freedom to live as they choose and to use their own resources however they wish. However, personal freedom does not create entitlement to what others have worked hard to earn once those resources are gone.
The Spiritual Cost of Riotous Living
Every year brings its own challenges, and this past year has been especially unusual for my wife and me. Rather than allowing hardship to overwhelm us, we have chosen to face our trials God’s way. The world around us feels darker—not physically, but spiritually and mentally. From my perspective, humanity is increasingly resisting the will and purpose of our Creator.
Scripture teaches that God is love and that He desires people to reflect His nature. Yet society is beginning to resemble the moral decline seen in Sodom or in the days before the flood. After nearly seventy years of reading and studying God’s Word, I continue to make a conscious decision to live by God’s truth and teaching. From this place, I value God’s truth more than human fantasies or empty promises. Truth has not changed, but human values shift constantly.
Riotous Living and the Cry for Love and Justice
So I ask these questions:
Where is the love?
Where is the justice our Constitution was meant to protect—justice that guards citizens from deception and falsehood?
Where is the freedom of speech that allows people to speak what is good, clean, and God-honoring?
Where is the respect for moral boundaries and the right to live a godly life without being attacked by those who claim unlimited freedom for themselves?
Where is the love?
Living Beyond Riotous Living: A Life Anchored in Faith
I have taught about God’s love for forty-five years and studied His Word for nearly seventy. Through that lifelong learning, I have built a foundation of faith that I cannot deny. My commitment to faith is much like my commitment as a veteran—this July, I will mark sixty-two years since my service began. I have been a Christian for sixty-nine years, married for fifty-eight years, and alive for eighty years. Throughout all of it, I have remained conservative in my beliefs.
The story of the prodigal son is an invitation to return. Riotous living begins when we forget who we are and to whom we belong. God’s truth has not changed, even as the world around us shifts its values and priorities. The call of Scripture is not to retreat in fear, but to stand in love, humility, and faithfulness. We become a light that still guides wandering hearts home when we live the truth, not just speak it.
As my father used to say, “There is no discharge in this war.” So I will continue to write and speak as long as I am able. I say this sincerely and from the heart—because I truly love my neighbors as myself.
Father God,
In this world filled with noise, confusion, and competing truths, anchor our hearts in Your Word. Help us to live wisely, love faithfully, and walk humbly before You. Guard us from wasting the gifts You have given. Draw us continually back to Your purpose and guide us in the divine stewardship of our life and resources. May our lives reflect Your truth, Your justice, and Your love—now and always.
God Bless,
Rodney Roberts
One Small Seed Newsletter – Edition #291, July 2025