The word “entitled” seems to have changed its meaning
recently. The word and its root dates from the 14th
century, but in recent years it has taken on a new shade of
meaning. Originally the word meant that someone was legally
“entitled” to some privilege, benefit or property.
Today the word has more to do with what people
feel
they have a right to, irrespective of whether that right has
any legal, moral or other foundation. Disadvantaged people
everywhere feel they are entitled to a better deal. Lazy
people feel entitled to society providing them with a decent
lifestyle. Children feel they are entitled to parents who
will provide for them, even when the “children” are grown-up
(at least in years). Most people feel they are entitled to a
government that will fix all their problems, give them free
housing, pensions, free medical and free food even though
they, themselves, have never made any contributions to
society.
Entitlement assumes certain “rights”. One problem is that
most of the time those rights exists only in the mind of
those who feel they are entitled. The bigger problem is that
such rights invariably infringe on the legitimate rights of
others. For example the person in LA who drives a big SUV
feels entitled to ignore everyone else on the road’s rights.
Thus entitlement always has a price which has to be paid by
disadvantaging someone else.
Entitlement is rooted in arrogance. Jacob Zuma and Tiger
Woods both feel they are entitled to sleep with every woman
in sight simply because they are who they are. After all,
they are the president of a country and (arguably) the best
golfer ever.
Entitlement is just another word for selfishness and
self-centeredness. The entitled see only their want, needs
and rights and care nothing about those of others.
But, that is exactly what we expect from unbelievers who see
themselves as the final authority and the ultimate goal of
everything. The scary thing is that entitlement has
infiltrated the church and most “christians” feel they are
also entitled to all sorts of things. Part of the reason for
this is the influence of the world but a substantial part of
the blame lies at the door of preachers. Preachers and
“christian” writers have for a while now, propagated the
message of entitlement. According to them, we are entitled
to happiness, a wonderful life, riches, health, success and
even salvation. None of this, of course is true but it has
not stopped people from changing their attitude from one of
humility, contentment and gratitude to one of arrogance,
discontent and assumption.
The truth is that we are not entitled to anything, except
God’s wrath. God does not owe us salvation or a good life.
It is just not in the Bible. He saves us because of His
amazing grace. Once we are saved, we are entitled only to
suffering, servitude and brokenness. Yet, again because of
his great grace, he does bless us with all manner of
spiritual and temporary blessings. But that is exactly what
these things are: they are His blessings because He loves
us. We do not deserve them and He does not owe us and we are
entitled to nothing.
If anyone was entitled, then Jesus was. He was entitled to
the supreme position in the universe, to the worship of
angles and all of creation. He was entitled to erase all of
mankind with the earth that had been contaminated by man’s
sin. He was entitled to expect kings to bow in the dust
before Him and for all of mankind to cower in humble
reverence. Yet He was born as a servant and died on the
Cross. He never asserted his rights (and He had real
rights). He never assumed that people would recognize that
He was entitled to their worship and allegiance. He simply
surrendered all His rights for the sake of saving us.
Where then do we get the idea that we are entitled to
respect from the world or even respect from other Christians
when no-one respected Him? Why are we entitled to a life
void of suffering when Jesus, and all the prophets suffered
for the sake of the Kingdom? (Matthew 5:12). Why are we
entitled to a cruise to heaven when Paul and others who went
before us had to labor night and day (Acts 20:31;
1Thessalonians 2:9)? Why are we entitled to be served when
others were spent in serving? Why are we entitled to be
loved, when we do not love? How can we be entitled to all
the benefits of a wonderful church body when we will not
contribute to it’s health? Why is it that those who bring
nothing to potlucks are the ones who feel they are entitled
to the best and most and are entitled to complain when the
food is not just as they want it to be? Why is it that the
members who cause the shepherds the most trouble and
disrespect the shepherds most are entitled the most honor
and attention? Why on earth are those who make the least
sacrifices entitled to make the most demands and those whose
lives least reflect Christ entitled to having the biggest
say in the church?
Just as entitlement in the world assumes certain “rights”,
so those in the church who feel they are entitled, assume
that they have rights that they never had. They have never
understood that they have no right to be saved, to be in a
good church or to have others run around and serve them.
Entitlement is rooted in arrogance – the arrogance that
deceives us to believe that we are wonderful people because
we have never seen the wretchedness of our sin and flesh. Or
maybe arrogance that is borne out of an inability to
remember that all we are, have and hope to be is because of
His unmerited favor. Arrogance that sees everyone else as
inferior leads to a feeling of entitlement. But then, no
Christian sees others as inferior, its just that we are
obviously superior!
Entitlement is founded in the worship of self. When we
become the centre of the universe and when God, the church
and others revolve around us – then off course we are
entitled to all sorts of privilege (or so we think).
But rather: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:3-8)
Anton Bosch
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