Mine, all mine

As Christians we are entitled to a lot.  God's promises are for us and we are entitled to what He has promised. There are literally thousands of promises from God in the Bible and He keeps every one of them.  

Most importantly, we are entitled to eternal life if we ask Christ to forgive our sins and we follow Him.  We are entitled to the fruits of His Holy Spirit, no matter what is going on in our lives.  

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22

We are entitled to have our sins forgiven by God when we ask Him and we are entitled to His love, guidance, and help at all times when we give Him our hearts. 

What we are not entitled to, however, is everything we ever ask for.  We are not entitled to be angry when we are not chosen for the church board, or someone sits in our special seat.

We are not entitled to be in the Pastor's inner circle, or have God as our fairy godmother granting all our wishes. 

I have traveled extensively throughout the United States and have found people who were gracious and generous, who said things like "I have enough, please give this to others."  

I have also met others who had an attitude of entitlement and were greedy and said things like "where is mine, what's in it for me? and I deserve better."

 We have government programs in this country that are meant to help people in need but unfortunately many people are taking advantage and generations of families are living off these programs.  

When did we start feeling that we are entitled....to be fed, to be happy, to have a TV, a car?  Are we entitled to these things which means they are handed to us? Or are we entitled to work for them and save for them?

I'm not just talking about monetary things either.  I hear people say "we deserve to be happy."  Do we?  Who says?  I was raised to work and create my own happiness.  Joy is one of the fruits of the spirit so even when things aren't going as the world thinks they should go, we can have joy but we are not promised happiness as the world views happiness.  The bible says to think of others above ourselves.  Do we do this?

Philippians 2:3 ESV 

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Or are we selfish and have an attitude of entitlement like those in this parable?

Luke 14:7-11 ESV 

Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

It is difficult to live in the world today and see what we see on TV and all the supposed happiness that comes from worldly pleasures.  It is hard not to feel entitled when some, who don't work as hard, have more than we do or are seemingly so happy.  Just remember TV is fake, and often ties what we see in others is also a facade.   Let's just be humble in this world and show what we are truly entitled to, that is, God's great promises and love and not judge ourselves against the worlds standards.  True happiness comes only from knowing God and yielding patiently to His plan daily.