Entitled to What?
This past Friday a somber Tiger Woods stood before watching fans and friends and confessed his moral failure. One key thought in his mea culpa reveals a window into the culture in which we are all immersed. Tiger confessed his conviction that he was “entitled” to enjoy the temptations so available to him as a man of fame and fortune. In his own words he had “worked hard” and he deserved to partake of whatever pleased him.
This past Friday a somber Tiger Woods stood before watching fans and friends and confessed his moral failure. One key thought in his mea culpa reveals a window into the culture in which we are all immersed. Tiger confessed his conviction that he was “entitled” to enjoy the temptations so available to him as a man of fame and fortune. In his own words he had “worked hard” and he deserved to partake of whatever pleased him.
While I would hope most of us would not make the same disastrous choices Tiger did, I wonder how much that same sense of entitlement affects my daily choices. From the popular slogan, “you deserve a break today” to that second piece of pie or second helping, I often choose the path of least resistance because I feel entitled. Whether because of hard work, a hard day or simply my own opinion of what life owes me, this same attitude of entitlement creeps into my actions in various ways and affects the people I in my world.
By stark contrast, the One truly entitled, the creator God over all, did not cling to His rights as God but humbled Himself all the way to death for my sake. Philippians 2:6-8. He laid down His rights to open heaven’s doors to you and me. He took the path of sacrifice, not entitlement.
How might my actions today better reflect His love if I resist the temptation of entitlement and choose the way of sacrifice for the benefit of others. What if instead of complaining about my hard day I seek to follow His example and by the Spirit’s power lay down my life for the sake of those I live with? What might that look like? What difference might it make?
Gwynne Johnson
Gwynne Johnson currently serves on the Board of Entrust, Inc., an international education and training mission where she authored the Entrust curriculum, Developing a Discerning Heart. She recently served as Co-Chair of the training project, Christian Women in Partnership, Russia and as Senior Director of Women's Ministry at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. Gwynne has a M.A. in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. She currently lives in Huntsville, Texas with her husband of 58 years, Don. She works part-time in her daughter and granddaughter's bakery "The Best Box Ever," where she gets paid in cookies.
3 Comments
Gaye-Ellen
re: sacrifice
Yes, Gwynne that is what it is all about. Yesterday in our worship service, Pastor Carl started the book of Philippians and he pointed out four essentials that Paul said we are to be modeling before those we say we serve: love, discernment about what is eternal or temporal, holiness, and fruitfulness.
We must love those we are here to serve or as Paul wrote: love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight which is discerning so that you can decide what is best, WHY? so that we are blameless at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and then in this life we are to be fruitful (filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God)
If we think we deserve “it” whatever “it” is , then we have not realized that we deserve Hell but God has given us the gift of Heaven both here and in the hereafter all because of His Son’s sacrifice.
Too bad Tiger has yet to learn these important principles. I guess he did not listen to what Brit Hume said.
God Bless, have a “marvy” day….
G.
Gwynne Johnson
Keep Praying…
Sounds like you have a wise Pastor.
Kelly Arabie
a daily basis
Gwynne, thanks for highlighting something I need to be reminded of on a daily basis!