Dying to Self-Entitlement

About a week ago, I switched on the television and saw that Dr. Phil was on. The episode was all about "moochers". What are moochers, you ask? Moochers are twenty-something, fully-abled adults who continue to live with their parents. They have no job, don't go to university or college, and do absolutely nothing of significance all day...at their parent's expense! All-wise Dr. Phil (note: just kidding) made an interesting observation. He noted that our generation (born in the 1980s and beyond) is characterized by a sense of entitlement. For the most part, our generation believes that what we want, we should get - no questions asked, no difficulties, no roadblocks. In a word...self-entitlement. I believe that this is a product of the self-loving, Oprah-propogated philosophy that tells us, you can do anything you want to do, go for your dreams, know yourself, love yourself, etc. And let's not forget the all-importance of a positive self-concept. Now don't get me wrong, I think that the above concepts have their place, but to focus on them as one's sole belief and aspiration is going to exalt one person above all else...you! When we are constantly being urged to pursue our dreams no matter what and to work hard to improve our self-esteem and love ourselves, the only logical outflow of this will be a self-centredness and a subconscious notion that somehow the world owes us something. Again, a sense of entitlement.

This week, I have really noticed this sense of entitlement in the world, and sadly, in myself. Complaining about my varsity workload; getting angry when a taxi cuts me off; frustration when things don't get done my way. All of these reations point to a sense of entitlement, of which the basis lies in a fundamental belief that the world should revolve around me. And be honest with yourself, this isn't just an Allison sin, this is a tendency that exists in the heart of every human being, as in II Timothy 3:2 which states that in the last days men will be lovers of themselves.

It's a pretty bleak, selfish picture, isn't it? I guess we could stop the discussion now and go away feeling hopeless, but I take comfort and exhortation from three biblical principles which address this sin of self-entitlement.

Firstly, as God's children, we are a new creation and have been redeemed that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again (II Corinthians 5:15). Christ Himself made Himself of no reputaion and became a bondservant, humbling Himself even to the humiliating death on a cross (Philippians 2:7&8). And guess what? As Christ-followers, His power exists in us to follow Him in His humble, self-dying, cross-carrying life.

Secondly, I take hope in the fact that we are not called to die to self merely in order to die, but in order to truly live (Elisabeth Elliot, Passion and Purity). James 4:10 tells us that if we humble ourselves as Christ humbled Himself, we will also be exalted as He was exalted. Our motive for dying to self and rejecting sinful self-entitlement exists in a love for Christ and His glory.

Finally, I am exhorted to reject self-entitlement by one of my all-time favourite verses, in which I regularly find new depths of meaning. Philippians 2:14&15 exhorts God-followers to do all things without complaining and disputing that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. God's Word tells us that our rejection of self-entitlement will be a powerful testimony and witness to our unbelieving friends and family. What a motive!

I hope this will be of some encouragement to you, as it undoubtedly has been to me. May we continue to strive for greater holiness for the glory of God and salvation of people.
Pea #1 (Alli)