What are you expecting from this life? In Laura Storey's beautiful song, "Blessings", she speaks of praying for peace, comfort for family, protection while we sleep, for healing, for prosperity & for God's mighty hand to ease our suffering. As the song is titled, we all pray for blessings. Do we deserve all these blessings? In the Bible, there were trials going on everywhere. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness. Paul was made blind. Jacob's children were so filled with jealousy they sold one of their brothers into slavery. And David grieved the loss of a son. Are we somewhat like our own children, we want blessings and want them now. I know for me personally when things don't go my way, I pray for God to fix it & beg Him to be quick about it. The younger generation has been labeled as being kids with a sense of entitlement. This means they feel they have a right or a claim to something, whether it's the best school, a grand home, preferential treatment, or the good life. I read an article and it reminded me of the book that came out years ago titled, "I'm O.K. - You're O.K." by Thomas Harris. This book was part of the self-esteem movement at the time. Unfortunately, self-esteem has morphed to entitlement. Perhaps we need a new book "I'm Entitled and So Are You".
What exactly am I entitled to? Am I entitled to have my health? Am I entitled to have my family? Am I entitled to have friends? Am I entitled to have safety? Why should I be entitled to all this? When we look around our world - not our neighborhoods, we see people who are suffering. Why do we think we shouldn't suffer? As I read over Facebook, I see where people lose loved ones daily, people who are struggling with pain, suffering and sickness, and the list goes on. As I sit here in my comfortable home, why do I deserve to be safe, comfortable, & blessed beyond measure. I have to answer, I don't. It is scary to say this, but if God wanted to take it all away, would I be faithful and respond with thanksgiving?
I'm reminded of all we do for our children or at least have tried to do. How does it make us feel when they complain because the Christmas gift they got wasn't just right? If the hot meal, we rushed home from work to prepare for them, didn't taste to their standards? If we don't meet every need they expect, and then they act as though we have failed them as a parent? Are we seen in God's eyes as our children are in ours? Sometimes I feel the more God gives me, the more I too expect. Does He ask Himself the question, I gave them my Son's life and salvation, isn't that enough? I'm ashamed to say for me it isn't. Unfortunately, I am an "entitled child of the King". I have way too many expectations from my Savior. I do want it all! When the slightest struggle comes my way, I cry out as though what He has done for me isn't enough. I pray I can be faithful to my God because of His sacrifice for me. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." I pray I will seek Him and not the things of this world. Matthew 6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." I pray I can be a good child and please Him in my gratitude. 1 Chronicles 16:34 "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever".
No comments:
Post a Comment