Entitlement: What Do You Think You Deserve?

A good education. A prestigious job. An attractive partner. Disposable income. A great house in a nice part of town. A late-model car. Are these rights? Desires? Privileges? Pipe dreams?

Last Tuesday at the Porch we talked about entitlement, which is the belief that your privileges are actually your rights. Living with an entitled mindset is dangerous, since it can cause you to forget what you actually deserve, and it robs you from experiencing joy and gratitude for what you actually do have. The more entitlement you have, the less joy you’ll have in life.

One of the applications from the message was to list 100 things you aren’t actually entitled to, but that you either currently have or believe you are entitled to. The goal of writing them down is to prayerfully reclassify them in your heart from seeing them as rights to seeing them as blessings and privileges.

I did this, and I want to share it with you in the hopes that it helps you work through yours. It’s almost embarrassing how easy it was for me to come up with 100 things that I believe I’m entitled to, but here’s a look at my list.

Spiritual

A vibrant spiritual life marked by effortless spiritual discipline
Overall happiness and joy
The spiritual gifts that I want
Deep communion and interaction with God
Access to the Bible in any version
Spiritual growth resources on any topic
A church that I love attending
Messages that are challenging but easy to follow
Teaching that lines up with what I’m comfortable with
The ability to serve where I want to serve
Conversions when I share the gospel with others
Minimal temptations
The ability to resist those temptations I face
Sins that aren’t hard to confess
God’s favor and blessing
The ability to memorize God’s Word easily
The ability to understand and apply Scripture easily
The wisdom to make good decisions
To be free from anxiety
Divine protection from accidents and tragedy
Religious liberty
To be under godly leadership

Relational

A wife who is beautiful and also embodies Proverbs 31
The right number of healthy, happy, and well behaved children
Parents who love me and are involved in my life
Siblings who love me and are involved in my life
Nieces and nephews who love me and enjoy my company
In-laws who love me, who aren’t dysfunctional, and are involved in my life
Authentic fellowship with other Christians
Meaningful friendships with people who pursue me
A community group that isn’t hard to be in
Respect and admiration from others
Praise and recognition from others
To be considered popular, funny, and smart
Excellent social skills
Quiet and considerate neighbors

Professional / Financial

A good education that equips me for a successful career
Financial assistance with that education
Meaningful projects and tasks at work
A healthy work/life balance
Colleagues whom I enjoy working with
The ability to succeed at whatever I do
The professional flexibility to do whatever I want
Recognition for my performance and excellence
A job that pays me enough to live comfortably
To be debt-free
Passive income that I don’t have to work for
An inheritance
Full health benefits
Paid vacation time
Savings, investments, and a 401(k)

Leisure / Lifestyle

A relaxing honeymoon in an exotic location
A life free from boredom yet not stressful
Fun and meaningful hobbies
A gym membership
Disposable income to do what I want to do
Interesting books to read
The time to read those books
A road bike
A mountain bike
A boat
The ability to retire when I want
Healthy and delicious groceries
The time and ability to cook
Eating out when I want at restaurants and coffee shops
Entertaining diversions (movies, concerts, etc.)
The ability to travel where I want
Reliable and fast internet access anywhere I go
A lake house and/or mountain cabin
Friends with a lake house and/or mountain cabin
Good weather
A pet that doesn’t require too much work
Access to the latest technology
Stylish and well fitting clothes
Excellent customer service wherever I shop

Transportation

A reliable yet stylish vehicle with high-end appointments
A motorcycle
A scooter
A short commute
Minimal traffic or delays when I drive
To never get in a wreck

Living Environment

A comfortable and beautiful house in a desirable location
A home that requires minimal maintenance
Stylish and tasteful high-quality furniture
A good school district for my children
A high-end mattress
A large and comfortable bathroom
Entertainment options (TV, outdoor grill, etc.)

Physical

A healthy brain and sharp mind
An attractive physique
Above-average strength
A head that doesn’t ache
Joints that don’t hurt
Nerves that fire correctly and don’t cause pain
Freedom from illness, especially debilitating diseases
Endurance and strength to exercise
The ability to play sports
White teeth that don’t have cavities
Restful and restorative sleep
Access to excellent healthcare

These aren’t all things that I currently have, but they reveal my desires and my pride. But how satisfying would it be to actually get all of these things, if I’ve been expecting them all along? Not very.

So what’s the solution to entitlement? Being grateful to God for the blessings He’s given, and trusting in God for whatever the future holds. Proverbs 30:7-9 says this, “Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”

Your daily provision. That’s what you need. Any more, and you run the risk of forgetting God and not looking to Him as the source of all blessing. Any less, and you run the risk of sinning to get what you think you need. Instead of feeling entitled to things and material blessings, praise the God who has given you every spiritual blessing in Christ!

Make your list. Pray through it. And ask God to change your heart to one of gratitude. And we’d love to hear what God does!

Luke

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