Saying yes to a difficult request in the family business
Why would the father give the youngest son his share of the estate? (Luke 15:12)
Last week, my questions about the The Parable of the Prodigal Son centered on what isn’t said in this powerful teaching by Jesus. This week, I’m focusing on the father’s response to the younger son’s request:
And the younger of [the sons] said to his father, “Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.” And he divided his property between them. (Luke 15:12)
That a son would ask for his “share” of inheritance relatively early in life suggests there was major turbulence somewhere. Maybe the younger son was struggling internally. Maybe the son and father had a difficult relationship. Or maybe the younger brother and older brother could not work together. Whatever the reason, this request signifies a major fissure.
But the idea that a father would simply honor his son’s request and divide his estate, and distribute it, before death, while he has an active business, is astonishing.
I know of many examples of parents keeping track of gifts and “settling up” in the estate distribution after they’ve passed. There are also instances of parents telling the next generation how the estate will eventually be divided and distributed, which I view as a positive conversation.
But in my years of family business consulting, I’ve only witnessed the father’s behavior twice, where the parents gave a next generation member their share of the estate at an earlier point. Both times it was an attempt to alleviate family turmoil.
Consider your family business. It’s one thing if you are dividing assets or buying out family members after the parents have passed away, the estate plan is known, and it’s clear what the next generation will get. Or perhaps it’s easier to contemplate such an act if you have passive family wealth, instead of an active operating business.
It’s quite another thing if you are running a business and the next generation wants their share NOW. Not only does it scream of entitlement by the next generation, it likely hinders the business. And receiving too much wealth, too early, has the potential to harm the next generation.
If you were in the father’s place, could you bring yourself to do what he did? How does the father’s decision to fulfill his younger son’s request reflect the notion of free will— God lets us decide, even if it hurts us and those around us.
Talk about a tough decision as a parent!