Entitlement – If it Worth Having Its Worth Working For

Entitlement

By Steve Crowley

For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:7-8 (ESV)

Webster’s defines “entitlement” as a belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges. In others words, “owed” something without earning it. When an individual or a people/society feel they are owed something they lose the satisfaction that comes from earning a reward for the efforts put forth.

Entitlement results in a lack of respect of ownership. When you work for something you take pride in its achievement, when you feel entitled you loose perspective of achievement.

“If this country is ever demoralized, it will come from trying to live without work.” ― Abraham Lincoln

Growing up, I remember my father teaching me that a hard days work resulted in a hard day’s pay. There was no such thing as a free lunch. If you wanted something, work hard, save and hopefully you would be able to attain what you wanted. As a result, I never adopted a sense of entitlement. Why would I? I was born in America, the land of opportunity where everyone could pursue the American dream. If you worked hard enough and applied yourself there was nothing you could not achieve, right?

There was something about applying yourself coupled with pursuing your dreams that keeps one humble. Stop and think about that for a moment…. When we achieve a goal there is a certain sense of accomplishment, an internal satisfaction that reveals deep within our spirit a dependence upon the One who gifted us verses independence of self-achievement.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14 (ESV)

When we pursue our dreams, most consider the cost to achieve. Do I have what it takes to achieve my goal? Personally, when I begin to take inventory of my abilities to achieve any given goal I come up with a mental inventory of pluses and minuses. Do I have what it takes? If not, what do I need to do to mitigate my weaknesses so I can achieve my goal? I count the cost.

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Luke 14:28 (ESV)

Counting cost keeps one humble. There is nothing a person cannot achieve if he or she is willing to pay the price.

And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:26, 27 (ESV)

Unfortunately we are living in a time where many are ignoring the Word of God and have become expectant of others to do what they themselves should be doing. We have a society puffed up by expectation of entitlement.

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. Proverbs 13:4 (ESV)

I am amazed by the growing sentiment among those who are coming of age to enter the work force. It appears there is an expectation of receiving verses applying. I can remember many years ago when I entered the job market. I was a in a job where my income was okay but the profession wasn’t a match for my skills. I decided to change jobs and in doing so I accepted the fact I was going to start back at square one and prove myself once again in order to get ahead. I accepted a sixty percent pay cut because I thought the upside would be better in the long run if I applied myself and succeeded.

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3 (ESV)

God tells us we are to work and to use the skills, talents and gifts He has given us. Therefore we should humble ourselves before The Lord and work diligently in the name of The Lord.

Gracious and merciful Father, Holy is Your name. Father, we humbly come before Your Almighty Throne of grace seeking You. Father, we thank You for the gifts You have bestowed upon us and we pray for diligence in our work and all that we do so we are contributors to Your Kingdom not takers. Father, strengthen us, bless us for the work You have created us to do.

For just as Your Son did the work You destined Him to do, may we do Your will. For it is in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ that we pray.

Amen

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entitlement – We are Owed Nothing

Entitlement

By Steve Crowley

For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:7-8 (ESV)

Webster’s defines “entitlement” as a belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges. In others words, “owed” something without earning it. When an individual or a people/society feel they are owed something they lose the satisfaction that comes from earning a reward.

Entitlement results in a lack of respect of ownership. When you work for something you take pride in its achievement when you feel entitled you loose perspective of achievement.

“If this country is ever demoralized, it will come from trying to live without work.” ― Abraham Lincoln

Growing up, I remember my father teaching me that a hard days work resulted in a hard day’s pay. There was no such thing as a free lunch. If you wanted something, work hard, save and hopefully you would be able to attain what you wanted. As a result, I never adopted a sense of entitlement. Why would I? I was born in America, the land of opportunity where everyone could pursue the American dream. If you worked hard enough and applied yourself there was nothing you could not achieve, right?

There was something about applying yourself coupled with pursuing your dreams that keeps one humble. Stop and think about that for a moment…. When we achieve a goal there is a certain sense of accomplishment, an internal satisfaction that reveals deep within our spirit a dependence upon the One who gifted us verses independence of self-achievement.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14 (ESV)

When we pursue our dreams, most consider the cost to achieve. Do I have what it takes to achieve my goal? Personally, when I begin to take inventory of my abilities to achieve any given goal I come up with a mental inventory of pluses and minuses. Do I have what it takes? If not, what do I need to do to mitigate my weaknesses so I can achieve my goal? I count the cost.

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Luke 14:28 (ESV)

Counting cost keeps one humble. There is nothing a person cannot achieve if he or she is willing to pay the price.

And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:26, 27 (ESV)

Unfortunately we are living in a time where many are ignoring the Word of God and have become expectant of others to do what they themselves should be doing. We have a society puffed up by expectation of entitlement.

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. Proverbs 13:4 (ESV)

I am amazed by the growing sentiment among those who are coming of age to enter the work force. It appears there is an expectation of receiving verses applying. I can remember many years ago when I entered the job market. I was a in a job where my income was okay but the profession wasn’t a match for my skills. I decided to change jobs and in doing so I accepted the fact I was going to start back at square one and prove myself once again in order to get ahead. I accepted a sixty percent pay cut because I thought the upside would be better in the long run if I applied myself and succeeded.

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3 (ESV)

God tells us we are to work and to use the skills, talents and gifts He has given us. Therefore we should humble ourselves before The Lord and work diligently in the name of The Lord.

Gracious and merciful Father, Holy is Your name. Father, we humbly come before Your Almighty Throne of grace seeking You. Father, we thank You for the gifts You have bestowed upon us and we pray for diligence in our work and all that we do so we are contributors to Your Kingdom not takers. Father, strengthen us, bless us for the work You have created us to do.

For just as Your Son did the work You destined Him to do, may we do Your will. For it is in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ that we pray.

 

Amen