James 4:6-But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”The entitlement mentality is rampant in our culture. It says, "I deserve better. I deserve more. I deserve it all. People should take care of me. I'm entitled to more than I'm getting." Many different areas of life can bring on a entitlement mentality.
Position of status- A job title that is above another doesn't make you a God.
Education level- A higher degree in a certain field of study does not make you more intelligent than all others. A degree in one field does not transcend to all corners of life.
Notoriety- Being famous or a spouse of someone famous does not elevate you above others. Because you think you're more special than others does not entitle you to what you want when you want it.
You may have put more time in your education, job level, or life and made different decisions along that path; But you were not created in any higher of magnitude than the one that has made different life choices.
Entitlement encompasses two attitudes: (1) I am exempt from responsibility, and (2) I am owed special treatment. In other words, I don’t have to carry my own burdens, and I should be treated differently.
Entitlement is discussed in the bible on many different occasions. Naaman was a respected commander of a powerful army, a strong soldier, well regarded by his superiors and yet, had leprosy. At this time, there was no known cure for this disease. One of his servants told him where he could go to be healed. So Naaman went to Elisha with his horses and chariots. Elisha told him that if he washed in the Jordan River seven times, he would be cleansed.
Here’s where we see Naaman’s entitlement: “But Naaman went away angry and said, ‘I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy’” (2 Kings 5:11).
Naaman presents both of these characteristics in his response. First, in Naaman’s mind, he was owed special treatment or at least a proper acknowledgment. Second, Naaman felt that he should be exempt from responsibility. He didn’t want the responsibility to follow orders by washing in the river.
We all have a Naaman in our lives. Perhaps it’s a co-worker, family member or friend who wants you to wave a hand over their situation and fix their problems. Maybe you have a son or daughter that, despite your best parental efforts, has chosen a path of laziness. They feel they deserve special treatment with no responsibility.
Here’s what you need to remember: Change happens in the presence of compassion. Before you look at that Naaman in your life and pretentiously point out all their failings, remember that you have been a Naaman. The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
You may receive your reward here on earth but be very careful of how you use that. One day you will make account for that gift and judged on how it was used.
Luke 17:5-10- The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you. "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"
If we aren't careful, this entitlement mentality even invades our relationship with God. We begin to feel that we deserve something from God. That he owes us something!
Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, what we deserve is death. That's a tough pill to swallow, but the Bible is clear about that. "The wages of sin is death" says the apostle Paul. What God owes us in wages is death! The good news is that he doesn't give us what we deserve. Instead, in mercy he gives us life!
He gives us eternity and freedom and forgiveness and hope and love and truth. God is SO good!
Our response to all this grace can't be, "Well, what else are you going to do for me, God." (Though he does so much for us everyday.) Rather our response should be, "What can I do for you, God? How can I serve and follow you today?" We are his servants. Not vice versa.
These last to posts are not made out of anger. They are made out of pain. Both personal and the pain of seeing it happen to so many others. Stop the hate, greed, the gossiping, the belittling of those you have less or don't fit your mold! Most of the people who read this blog will not fit into these categories. But I can guarantee you know others like this that need prayers.
Romans 12:3- For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Luke 14:11- For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
For those who read all the way through, here's a good video on entitlement.
May You Be Blessed With Peace And Understanding
