Daily Devotions
Entitlement
Title: Entitlement
Reading for April 19: 2 Kings 4-5
Weekly reading for April 15-21: Luke 15-19
Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"
Luke 17:15-18
Entitlement is, according to Webster's Dictionary, "the feeling or belief that you deserve to be given something (such as special privileges)."
Imagine if you received a check in the mail for $1,000. How would you react? You would be grateful, of course, and you would express that gratitude to your friend.
But what if the next week you received another check for $1,000? What if this happened week after week for a year? What if this went on for years? Would you be as thankful?
It is natural to give thanks for something that is out of the ordinary and unexpected, however, it becomes harder to give thanks for something that has become routine. When we receive blessings week after week from God's hand, gratitude and thanksgiving can easily turn into entitlement.
Do you suffer from this condition? Entitlement is easy to detect in others, but can be nearly impossible to see in oneself. Here are some things to think about:
- What do I dwell on more: what I don't have or what I do have? Which is my default: grumbling or giving thanks?
- Do I despise others for the evidence of God's blessing in their lives (possessions, position, relationships, etc.)? Am I able to rejoice with those who rejoice or do I resent those who prosper?
Father, give us grateful hearts that acknowledge all of your blessings in our lives!
