The Gift of Entitlement
By Susan Klein
“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”
Romans 12:3
I’ve been searching my Bible for a particular verse. I know there are several that address “spiritual gifts,” and “gifts” from God, but I can’t seem to find the one about the “gift of entitlement.” I think I read it somewhere between the verse about “God helping those who help themselves,” and the one about “looking out for number one...?”
Surely it must exist, because I saw two ladies exercising this particular gift today in the grocery store. One lady had her cart parked in front of some produce she was examining. Another lady, arms flailing about excitedly, was explaining to the store clerk that the price on the sign was not what she had read in the sale flyer. The excited lady, exercising her “gift of entitlement,” walked right in front of the cart lady, blocking her view of the produce. The cart lady, clearing her throat, incredulously replied, “Excuse me. Am I in your way?” “Why, yes, you are,” exclaimed the excited lady in a most earnest tone. “Well, you are in my way!” scorned the cart lady, most indignantly, as she shoved her cart back into its rightful place. I guess the cart lady had the gift of entitlement too!
Now, you may be chuckling to yourself, but entitlement has become the American way. “I am entitled to the best education, affordable healthcare, low gas prices, quality made products and the best service.”
This attitude can even carry over into our churches and workplaces. Perhaps we feel because we’ve got seniority we are entitled to certain rights that really aren’t ours.
Well, I haven’t found it. No verse on the “gift of entitlement.” What I have found is this: We are not all that! To show our insignificance, Isaiah compares us to grasshoppers under God’s throne! And to the proud God admonishes, “But you are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless” (Isaiah 41:24). Proverbs 22:2 reminds us that the rich and poor have this in common: the Lord God made them all. We are all equal in God’s eyes. In fact, we are all really just a bunch of sinners who deserve (are entitled to) nothing but death! Thankfully, our God is merciful. He has given us a better gift in providing a way out through His Son so we don’t have to get “what we deserve.” And, His mercies are new every morning! Now that’s a gift worth embracing!
GOING DEEPER:
1. Ask God to search your heart and show you areas where you might fall prey to thinking you have the “gift of entitlement.”
FURTHER READING:
Proverbs 29:23, James 4:6-10
Susan is our Tuesday Morning Women’s Bible Study Coordinator and one of its teachers. She is also involved in inner city outreach.
