Dear brothers and sisters;
I was having a conversation with a close friend this morning and the topic of entitlement came up. At times as a man of God, husband, worker or joiner (someone who likes to participate,) I would get this attitude that I deserve and expect what's mine, or having the best seat at the event, or everyone being agreeable to my stand on apologetics.
The world has it's own definition of entitlement such as doing whatever I want to my body, afterall, it's MY body, or I can spend what I want, after all it's MY money or I can excuse MY selfishness because I deserve it...
Some of us reading this topic may be able to relate and present different views of self entitlement, or in other words, we get it!
I feel that self entitlement can escalate and become a way of life within a person, and this can lead to chronic disappointment leading oneself to shut down from the family, work, circle of friends and even the Church.
Paul taught the Philippians about the joy in serving even while he was in prison. He reminded them that Christ laid down his self entitlements so that we might share in His glory. Paul goes on to share that walking with Christ is a "knowing and growing" relationship with Him even in the relationship with others, by putting aside self and replacing it by serving others to the point of humility instead of recognition.
Philippians 2:5-8, 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Trusting and not trusting should not be an on and off switch when we don't get what we want, though in some way we feel we deserve it. But where did /does Jesus stand?
What are your thoughts?
God bless you all and your families.
I was having a conversation with a close friend this morning and the topic of entitlement came up. At times as a man of God, husband, worker or joiner (someone who likes to participate,) I would get this attitude that I deserve and expect what's mine, or having the best seat at the event, or everyone being agreeable to my stand on apologetics.
The world has it's own definition of entitlement such as doing whatever I want to my body, afterall, it's MY body, or I can spend what I want, after all it's MY money or I can excuse MY selfishness because I deserve it...
Some of us reading this topic may be able to relate and present different views of self entitlement, or in other words, we get it!
I feel that self entitlement can escalate and become a way of life within a person, and this can lead to chronic disappointment leading oneself to shut down from the family, work, circle of friends and even the Church.
Paul taught the Philippians about the joy in serving even while he was in prison. He reminded them that Christ laid down his self entitlements so that we might share in His glory. Paul goes on to share that walking with Christ is a "knowing and growing" relationship with Him even in the relationship with others, by putting aside self and replacing it by serving others to the point of humility instead of recognition.
Philippians 2:5-8, 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Trusting and not trusting should not be an on and off switch when we don't get what we want, though in some way we feel we deserve it. But where did /does Jesus stand?
What are your thoughts?
God bless you all and your families.
