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."