Have you really stopped to take a look at this world as it stands right now? Actually, let me actually bring it closer to home. Have you taken a look at this country? Your city? Take a look at the actions and nuances that go on around you. Grant it, some places generally have nicer folk than others and there are plenty of people that will pleasantly surprise you; however right now in this day and age one of the biggest issues is this sense of entitlement— and it’s a huge problem.

What IS entitlement? It’s a mental position that suggests that you are owed something. It’s a powerful position to be in and thus breeds a level of control that oozes attitude. If you can think of the power that a creditor has over a debtor (ever had overdue bills?) or think of how it feels when somebody has done something for you and you owe them AND they lord it over you. Even further, think of a situation where you’ve wronged somebody and you feel bad for it. This position of power is something that has become the state of mind for several people…for several reasons.

Look around your cultures and different groups of people and pinpoint the entitlement button. It could be by race, ethnicity, financial position, company position, social status, being rich, being poor— it creates a sense that the world owes you something and “you have the right to…”

With all that in the backdrop do you see the level of conceit and self-centric attitude that permeates our society? Do you see this play out in our interactions with people? Do you see how this flies in direct opposition to humility? Because how can you ever develop a strong level of humility when these are the phrases that rule your mind: You owe me… I deserve… I expect… I earned… I worked for… this is a right… 

Don’t get me wrong. In some cases these attitudes are applicable. I’m not implying that these are always awful thoughts to have. In a healthy dose, confidence is paramount. However, we are talking about the people that tailgate you or honk at you because you’re moving too slow, the privileged kid that speaks rudely to adults and demands things, the person that robs a liquor store at gunpoint because life is hard, the celebrity that parties hard and is rude to their fans and the little people, the CEO that fires at will and doesn’t care about his employees and this escalates to people who lash out in shootings and violence because they are retaliating for what’s been done to them. 

God certainly does not want us to have this attitude. In the days of the Israelites, God made every effort to show that He, not they, were in control. He rescued them out of Egyptian bondage and led them in battle with small numbers. In the days of the new testament church, it was asked, “what do you have that wasn’t given to you?” Acknowledging God then leads us to acknowledge that in Him we move and have our being. He knows our beginning and our end. Every good gift comes from God. He is even the source of wisdom. To top it all off, as we could not save ourselves from our sin and from death, Jesus stepped in and took OUR punishment and became the propitiation for our sins. He died in our place.

Taking it to a worldly level, the world owes you NOTHING. You were given life by your parents so you owe them. They feed you and take are of you. You may be qualified for that job, but that company still GAVE you that job. You may be CEO but even that was given to you. Think really hard and ask yourself, what do I deserve? What did I not RECEIVE? 

The Bible clearly states what we deserve. The Bible says for ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Then it also says the wages of sin is death. Wages are what you WORK for. If you are sinful, God’s just earning for you is death and eternal separation from God, who cannot be in the presence of sin. God owes you punishment. He has the right to punish you. 

But God… 

Grace and mercy and love was put in the place of those characteristics that we possess. Jesus became the antithesis of these attitudes. He gives us a reason for humility which leads us to salvation. Humility leads the world to a peaceful place. Because these phrases prevail: I owe…  I was given… this is a privilege…

Take a good look at your life and really see what you OWE. What you were GIVEN. 

We can continue to live in an entitlement state of mind, bump heads, argue, have scuffles, have wars, have high and mighty attitudes and have unhealthy competition. Or we can live in a humble state of mind being thankful, gracious, merciful, forgiving, gentle, have peace, have low and humble attitudes and seek the best for others over ourselves.

“I don’t owe you. You don’t owe me. We owe God”

I pray we look to God for this attitude, change the sentiment of society and place ourselves in the right relationship with God.