Entitlement is alive and well in today’s world. People think they are entitled to raises. Entitled to benefits. Entitled to be first in line. Entitled to what they haven’t earned. Entitled to special treatment. The definition of entitlement as I am referring to it is, “the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.”
My community recently faced a situation where the ugliness of entitlement was on full display. A local elected official felt they had the right to special treatment for a family member even when it violated policies and procedures that official is sworn to uphold.
Entitlement has always been something I don’t tolerate well. I believe people should earn what they receive. Hard work. Completing the task. Making a difference. Doing what’s right when no one is looking. It is from those actions that we reap benefits and blessings.
“A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:7–9)
The devil is happy to nudge and prod us in the flesh. To convince us that we deserve something we haven’t earned. He tells us, “After all, other people get what they want; why shouldn’t you? It isn’t wrong. You work hard. It’s not your fault you came up short of the requirements. People should show more compassion.” And we buy it because it feels good in the flesh.
But if you are a follower of Christ, it won’t feel good in the flesh for long. It will feel wrong. You may enjoy the short-term high, but your heart will soon tell you that it isn’t legitimate. That the benefit you received was stolen. It will be hollow.
Most of us have felt entitled. I know I have. And my behavior in those moments was anything but Godly. I certainly didn’t represent my Christ and Savior as He deserved. I replaced a Holy Sacrifice with my unholy arrogance.
In 2 Kings 5:1-19 we have the story of Naaman, the Syrian captain who was afflicted with leprosy. He came to Elisha the prophet to be healed, but he came with a spirit of entitlement.
“So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
But Naaman was angry, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. (v 9-11)
The spirit of entitlement blinded Naaman. Believing that he was entitled to privileged treatment and a more noble remedy, he became angry when Elisha did not meet him. He didn’t want to have to do anything to be healed, let along wash in the he Jordan seven times. I’m sure Naaman would have felt that was beneath him. Because of his anger, he almost lost the opportunity to be healed. Fortunately, his servants persuaded him to humble himself and go to the Jordan. He went and was healed. When a humbled, grateful Naaman returned to Elisha, the prophet met him and blessed him. Naaman not only was healed of the leprosy, but his heart was healed as well.
If anyone could have felt entitled it was Jesus. He is the Son of God. Shouldn’t he have been entitled to come to earth, climb on a white steed, gallop through the countryside, and save us all from sin without getting his sandals dirty? He could have felt entitled to simply utter the words, “I remove all sin from those who believe in Me.” Then His disciples would go into the world and spread the Gospel with ease and without torture and ridicule. Christians today would not face discrimination, judgement, prejudice, and worse death, for their faith.
But that isn’t how the story goes. Instead, the One who certainly was entitled to grace received none. The One who came to save did so through torture and suffering beyond anything we can comprehend. The ones He left behind to carry His message endured hatred, imprisonment, torture, and death. Believers risked their lives to worship Jesus – and still do today.
The spirit of entitlement leads us to fight against God and His eternal plan. It undermines intimacy because we get angry with God and people around us when they don’t give us what we want. And it prevents us from growing in our relationship with Jesus. It once again says, “I know better. Jesus is too late or hasn’t shown up. So, I’ll take matters into my own hands.”
Entitlement is sneaky. It creeps in when you least expect it. It disguises itself as something earned or deserved. It presents with a self-righteousness that can blind us to the truth. Its master is the enemy. And the enemy is a liar.
Trust the One who shed entitlement for suffering to show you the path you should walk. Resist the urge to take matters into your own hands when the hands of your Savior are far more capable of shaping your life. Leave the ugliness of entitlement at the foot of the Cross.