Entitlement

On my last trip to Mexico, I became uncomfortably aware at how much we feel we are entitled to.  Observing tourists behaving poorly because they had to wait for a table, or service was slow or something was not cooked the way they expected – this is showing that they believe they are entitled to immediate seating, quick service, unspoken expectations over food, etc.  Were they children we would refer to them as spoilt!  But the same was true in traffic – and a source of many accidents!  Bargaining in the market place again showed this tendency towards the entitlement mentality.

There is only one way to cure a sense of entitlement – through a spirit of thanksgiving.

1.  Put away  your PRIDE.

Psalm 10:4 – we do not deserve what we want.  (thankfully, we also do not get what we do deserve!)

2.  Be watchful for unconscious HABITS.

1 Corinthians 2:6-7 - Do not expect how God has blessed you yesterday to be how He will bless you today or tomorrow!  He will give or take as He sees fit each day, as He chooses.

3.  Stop being BLIND.

Colossians 4:2 - You must learn to see not only what is really important in life, but also God’s working not only in your life but in other’s as well!  He is there, He is working, we just have to be able to see – and that takes our willingness to open our eyes.

4.  Get beyond the FALSE TEACHINGS which surround us.

Philippians 4:6 - Probably the most dangerous to the faith of ourselves and those around us are the health and wealth gossip teachings.  The Bible does not promise us riches or health or success.  But this teaching leads us to expect this, to demand this, to be spoilt children before our Creator!  We owe God everything – not the other way around!

5.  Develop an attitude of GRATEFULNESS.

 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - You have the choice to be thankful to God or not, in all circumstances.  But, you must recognize that everything in your life is a gift of God, to bless us, to offer opportunity for growth and as a witness to others.  You must acknowledge that the giver of all things is God.  You must choose to receive all God has given you in your life with thanksgiving.

Develop humility before God.  Reject the spirit of entitlement.

Admit God does not owe you anything!  Say it out loud, right now, until you believe what you are hearing!  All we deserve is death and judgment.

Accept the gift of the Gospel.

Yeah, this is stuff that is all counter to the normal spirit of man – where we are number one.  Period.  But, this is what each of us needs to overcome in order to be true servants of God.  Putting others sacrificially before ourselves and expecting nothing in return.

Yeah, not easy at all…..