Dancing in the Light

I John 1:7 "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin."

Name:
Location: North Platte, Nebraska, United States

I am a christian wife, mother and grandmother. I am a licensed Social worker and a licensed Christian counselor. I am most proud of the relationships I have with God, my family and friends all over the world. I have been blessed beyond my dreams.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Entitled

Not a day goes by that I am not amazed at what an entitled society we are becoming. I watch as celebrities misuse their fame in an effort to get out of trouble, as if their notoriety has somehow earned them the right to function above the legal system. I watch as parents neglect their children, pawning them off on 24 hour a day daycare or sitting them in front of the electronic "babysitter" for hours, as if by giving birth, they have somehow earned some "time" for themselves. I hear of marriages breaking up simply because one or both partners is not happy, as if their "right" to happiness supercedes any promises or vows they made. I have personally observed elders and elders wives who do not "work" for the church but allow the church to serve them, as if their leadership position has somehow made them exempt from christian service. I have worked with staff who, because they have seniority, relegate any and all jobs to the newest employee, while they spend their day in the break room. Newscasters tell us about executives, physicians, politicians, teacher, and ministers who misuse their power and bring suffering on those around them.
It is almost as if we wake up in the morning and look and the mirror ---and deciding we look really good, we begin to rationalize that we deserve to be treated as good as we look. We begin making plans to "take" what we believe we have coming to us! We behave as if everyone should not only notice how great we are, but should also be grateful. They should jump when we say jump. They should understand when we are in a bad mood and become verbally abusive, after all, we have a lot on our minds. They should forgive us when we don't keep our word, understanding just how busy we are. They should smile and agree when we take credit for their works because after all we are a team, aren't we? They should enjoy waiting on us and serving us, we have worked hard all our lives and deserve the honor. When you are as good as we are, you really ought to be given a little slack as far as law and rules go, right?
Y'all, I am so tired of this attitude. It is counter to everything God teaches, counter to the example of our Savior and counter to simple common courtesy and decency. We know the passage in Philippians chapter two---that tells us that even Jesus (who truly deserved better), willingly lowered Himself to love us! That very passage tells us that we should have that same mind. Romans 12:3 says that we should not think more highly of ourselves than we ought but that we should use "sober" judgement in our assessment. Inherent in that sober judgement is the realization that we are all sinners---and our sin separates us from God. Without the blood sacrifice of Jesus, we were lost, as lost as the devil himself. And what were "entitled" to---only a life of eternal torment.
My prayer is that God's people would be people of humility and gratitude, that we would be examples of graciousness and kindness, that we would be true servants, true witnesses of the power of God in our lives. We may be surrounded by an entitled society but do we really have to try so hard to blend in?

Peace
Neva
Galatians 6:3 "If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself."

21 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Amen. I was recently discussing with a friend about how difficult it is for ministers to fight a sense of entitlement. Many people want to do nice things for ministers, and eventually we come to expect that.

So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’

Grace and peace,
Tim

9:04 AM  
Blogger Monalea said...

Oh Neva, you are so right. But we live in a society that screams at us from every avenue - 'you deserve.' I stuggle with pushing people to do it my way and standing up for me at any price.

Monalea

9:22 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Relevant and powerful.

11:44 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Reminds me of a recent conversation about kids saying "something isn't fair."
My response was that if life were fair, we'd all be doomed to hell. The blessing is that we are not worthy, and we should act thus. Yet, His grace is sufficient.
Good post, as usual.

4:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,
I read this early this morning but your blog wouldn't let me post a comment. You might need to check it--you may have missed quite a few comments.
This was a very good post, one that totally applies to us today,

Love
Pat

5:27 PM  
Blogger Bob Bliss said...

Ask not what others can do for you, ask what you can do for others. JFK, revised for the present.

5:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This has been on my mind, too. It isn't just with our kids, but with all of us. We all seem to think we deserve better than whatever we get.

Georgia

6:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Amen! Another great post! Just what the church needs to hear.

well done!

Corinne

7:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I tried to comment earlier too.
Sorry I can't remember what I tried to write. I am sure it was very profound :}
Anyway, I liked the post.

Carol

8:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

My husband and I were just talking about how entitled our kids are. Your post reminded me how entitled I behave. Thank you for the reminder.

Rachel

8:50 PM  
Blogger Jennifer said...

Neva, I really appreciate this post. I work at a Christian college where this sense of entitlement is on the rise. Amazingly, the effort, time management, work ethic, etc., are on the decrease. It's definitely a community/society issue that needs addressing.

9:57 PM  
Blogger Liz Moore said...

All I can say is...Preach it sister!! My husband and I have talked about this for years. How common decency and courtesy and have just gone out the window. People used to hold the door open for you going in to the store. Kids used to stand on the side on the street and wait for you to pass in your car. Now they walk right out in front of you like they own the street. We are doing the next generation a great disservice by these worldly attitudes. I pray that as Christians we will be holy and set apart. That... "we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. Psalm 78:4" Great thoughts Neva. Blessings!

10:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,
You should work with the youth group! I see this ever increasing problem everyday. Nothing is ever good enough! Very timely post!

Dan

6:50 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

We are a very entitled society. I appreciate this post, it made me think. I am wondering how to correct this attitude with my own children. Any ideas out there in blogland?

Jeneane

10:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,
As a minister and a teacher, I have been struggling with teaching this concept for years. The struggle is that those who are entitled--beleive they are entitled to feel that way! If you know what I mean?

In Christ
Mark

9:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

We live in a world that teaches us to look out for number one (ourself) I believe when we do that we become selfish and subsequently entitled people. There is no humility, there is no selflessness and therefore there is no sacrifice. How weary God must become of us?

I love the post and the thoughts today.

bless you,
Glynnis

11:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for your thoughtful post! My prayer is, that I will become a person that follows in the footsteps of our Saviour so that others will look up and follow him, too, because they see the difference this makes in life.

Helen

6:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Amen, we see it all the time, unfortunately we sometimes act it out. My prayer for us is that we begin to truly see ourselves as God sees us, valueable but helpless and hopeless and lost without Him. It is a very humbling experience when we embrace the lostness and impending death of our souls.
Great post,
Carlos

2:38 PM  
Blogger ThreeGirlyGirls said...

Whew girl.....AMEN!!! WOW!!!

7:42 AM  
Blogger Monalea said...

Hey Sweetie,

I have missed your words of wisdom.

Monalea

4:40 PM  
Anonymous Jumps said...

Ask not what others can do for you, ask what you can do for others. JFK, revised for the present.

8:04 AM  

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