Before you even dive into this blog, I am going to put a disclaimer out that I am probably going to ruffle some feathers. Rub people the wrong way. Irritate people. Offend people. If you get easily offended, you should probably stop here. Before you even start.
"I don't want to."
"I shouldn't have to."
"I don't need to."
"I..."
"I..."
"I..."
The world we live in is focused on one's selfish ambitions, dreams, and desires.
As I've entered my mid-twenties, I've become vividly aware of how focused people are on themselves. "I have to do this. I have to do that. I can't do that for you. I don't have time for that." It's actually quite sickening. People are so caught up in their every day lives and what they have to do that they don't see how their actions are affecting other people. Or not affecting other people. They don't see how their time can make a difference. How their actions say a lot about who they are as a person.
By the way, I'm not saying I'm innocent in all of this.
I've been reading through the Old Testament recently. I can't help but think about how people such as Ruth gave up everything to follow someone she loved dearly. She sacrificed what she knew for the unknown. It probably wasn't comfortable, but she still did it. David went up against Goliath when all odds were against him. All logic said he should have been crushed by Goliath, but instead, he defeated Goliath with one stone. All because of his faith, willingness to follow God, and lack of focus on himself.
These people should be an inspiration to live beyond ourselves. Instead, we seem to hear stories such as these and write them off as inapplicable. Everything is different now. Life doesn't work like that anymore. It's more complicated than that. I'm already doing all of these other things. How could I possibly do that when I have all these other things to worry about?
There's always an excuse.
Along with the excuses that come off as entitlement ("I'm too good for that") comes a lack of commitment. So often people say they are going to do certain things and there is no follow-thru. I think of New Year's Resolutions. Yes, they are typically individual goals, but there is no real commitment. By February, we look at the list and laugh at all of the items that we've already failed to do. (I made a list and couldn't tell you where it is. How do you think I'm doing on those resolutions?)
Then there's the over-commitment that results in a lack of commitment. You have two events scheduled for the same time so you have to pick and choose. It seems as if you're committed to one activity and not the other. You pick the one you're more attracted to, the one you enjoy the most. Without thinking about how it's going to look to and affect all those involved in the other activity, the one that isn't as important. Without even knowing it, you've just caused harm to relationships within the group because not being there says just as much as being there.
These actions come of as entitlement. You only have to do what you want to do. Nothing else matters but your own happiness. Fulfill your own dreams and desires.
What would happen if, for once, we quit thinking about ourselves and put others before us?
Truly stopped to think about how we are affecting those around us?
We need to stop focusing on our own selfish motives. God's not worried about how many organizations we belong to or which ones we attend regularly. He's not worried about the number of places we go or the amount of work we do or don't do. He's not worried about the clothes you wear, the phone you have, or other frivolous material things.
God wants us to be giving our all to further His Kingdom. By focusing on others. When we are concentrating on our desires, we are too blinded to see what others need. Hence, there is a sense of entitlement that says only "I" matter.
Over and over in the Bible, we are told that the second greatest commandment is to "Love your neighbor as yourself". It's not "focus on yourself" or "make sure you get to do everything you want to do". It's "Love your neighbor as yourself". Then, let's flip to the story of the rich, young ruler (Luke 18:18-30) who is told that to have treasure in heaven, he must sell everything he has. He's too caught up in himself to do anything truly productive for the Kingdom of God. He doesn't recognize the needs of his neighbors, or even God. He needs to give up everything that has become more important than God in order to have a life with God. Giving up these things will make it easier to follow God, which then results in seeing others' needs more clearly.
We, as Christians, need to take this account to heart. God did not create us to be entitled. God is calling us to something greater than our present circumstances. He's calling us to make a difference in other people. But, we have to be willing to give up what stands in the way. For most of us, it's believing we're entitled to what we already have.
Get rid of the entitlement that says you deserve and should have everything you want. The entitlement that says your happiness is more important than others' happiness. The entitlement that says it's okay to back out of a commitment strictly because "I don't want to". The entitlement that makes you so comfortable you don't want to experience anything else. The entitlement that says others don't matter.
It won't be easy. It may be the hardest thing you do in your life. But, God is right there with you. Every step of the way.
"I will never leave you nor will I forsake you."
What's in the way of you serving the Kingdom and following God completely?
"I don't want to."
"I shouldn't have to."
"I don't need to."
"I..."
"I..."
"I..."
The world we live in is focused on one's selfish ambitions, dreams, and desires.
As I've entered my mid-twenties, I've become vividly aware of how focused people are on themselves. "I have to do this. I have to do that. I can't do that for you. I don't have time for that." It's actually quite sickening. People are so caught up in their every day lives and what they have to do that they don't see how their actions are affecting other people. Or not affecting other people. They don't see how their time can make a difference. How their actions say a lot about who they are as a person.
By the way, I'm not saying I'm innocent in all of this.
I've been reading through the Old Testament recently. I can't help but think about how people such as Ruth gave up everything to follow someone she loved dearly. She sacrificed what she knew for the unknown. It probably wasn't comfortable, but she still did it. David went up against Goliath when all odds were against him. All logic said he should have been crushed by Goliath, but instead, he defeated Goliath with one stone. All because of his faith, willingness to follow God, and lack of focus on himself.
These people should be an inspiration to live beyond ourselves. Instead, we seem to hear stories such as these and write them off as inapplicable. Everything is different now. Life doesn't work like that anymore. It's more complicated than that. I'm already doing all of these other things. How could I possibly do that when I have all these other things to worry about?
There's always an excuse.
Along with the excuses that come off as entitlement ("I'm too good for that") comes a lack of commitment. So often people say they are going to do certain things and there is no follow-thru. I think of New Year's Resolutions. Yes, they are typically individual goals, but there is no real commitment. By February, we look at the list and laugh at all of the items that we've already failed to do. (I made a list and couldn't tell you where it is. How do you think I'm doing on those resolutions?)Then there's the over-commitment that results in a lack of commitment. You have two events scheduled for the same time so you have to pick and choose. It seems as if you're committed to one activity and not the other. You pick the one you're more attracted to, the one you enjoy the most. Without thinking about how it's going to look to and affect all those involved in the other activity, the one that isn't as important. Without even knowing it, you've just caused harm to relationships within the group because not being there says just as much as being there.
These actions come of as entitlement. You only have to do what you want to do. Nothing else matters but your own happiness. Fulfill your own dreams and desires.
What would happen if, for once, we quit thinking about ourselves and put others before us?
Truly stopped to think about how we are affecting those around us?We need to stop focusing on our own selfish motives. God's not worried about how many organizations we belong to or which ones we attend regularly. He's not worried about the number of places we go or the amount of work we do or don't do. He's not worried about the clothes you wear, the phone you have, or other frivolous material things.
God wants us to be giving our all to further His Kingdom. By focusing on others. When we are concentrating on our desires, we are too blinded to see what others need. Hence, there is a sense of entitlement that says only "I" matter.
Over and over in the Bible, we are told that the second greatest commandment is to "Love your neighbor as yourself". It's not "focus on yourself" or "make sure you get to do everything you want to do". It's "Love your neighbor as yourself". Then, let's flip to the story of the rich, young ruler (Luke 18:18-30) who is told that to have treasure in heaven, he must sell everything he has. He's too caught up in himself to do anything truly productive for the Kingdom of God. He doesn't recognize the needs of his neighbors, or even God. He needs to give up everything that has become more important than God in order to have a life with God. Giving up these things will make it easier to follow God, which then results in seeing others' needs more clearly.
We, as Christians, need to take this account to heart. God did not create us to be entitled. God is calling us to something greater than our present circumstances. He's calling us to make a difference in other people. But, we have to be willing to give up what stands in the way. For most of us, it's believing we're entitled to what we already have.
Get rid of the entitlement that says you deserve and should have everything you want. The entitlement that says your happiness is more important than others' happiness. The entitlement that says it's okay to back out of a commitment strictly because "I don't want to". The entitlement that makes you so comfortable you don't want to experience anything else. The entitlement that says others don't matter.
It won't be easy. It may be the hardest thing you do in your life. But, God is right there with you. Every step of the way.
"I will never leave you nor will I forsake you."
What's in the way of you serving the Kingdom and following God completely?
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