Pastor's Pen
A monthly message from the hand of Pastor Stockman
Perhaps the book for this decade will be, "I'm Entitled and So Are You! (Though Perhaps Not Quite So Much as Me)." Such a book, popular as it might prove, would lack therapeutic value. A more helpful book might be entitled, "I'm Not Entitled and Neither Are You -- So Get Over It!"
Entitlement issues are increasingly a concern of psychologists and therapists. Pastors and some educators report similar concerns. Many people feel that they are entitled to get their way, quick promotions, and anything else they desire. Â
We see a sense of entitlement all around us. It is not uncommon for there to be a huge pile of presents under the Christmas tree for the kids. Are the kids overwhelmed, thankful, and filled with awe that there are so many things for them? Not most kids, because anything less would be unfair.  Many kids feel a right to presents by the heaps, and even that will disappoint them if the latest, coolest thing isn't to be found under the Christmas tree. Adults also feel entitled at times. Imagine a person standing on a beautiful beach in Hawaii with a frown on his face, muttering, "I liked our spring vacation better" -- that's an entitlement issue, too.Â
I read that these days, mental health professionals see young people regularly that are certain their lives should be better than they are, and someone else is to blame. But this problem is not limited to the young. Talk radio shows specialize in identifying the culprits, and they seldom are us. And when it's their children who have stepped in it, the self-righteousness of parents can be a wonder to behold. The result is a culture of complaint. We have, it seems, grown fluent in the language of blame, complaint, and grievance, while having lost our ability to use words such as "Please," "Thank you," and "I'm sorry."Â
We also seem to have difficulty accepting responsibility for our part in the problems that beset us. After all, how can we possibly say, "It's my fault," when we've been weaned and schooled on self-esteem? If I'm OK and you're OK, then it must be "Them."
A sense of entitlement means that we feel we have a right or a claim to something, whether that something is the best school, a grand home, preferential treatment, or the good life. How has this sense of entitlement come to pass? Is it self-esteem run amok? Is it the emphasis on "rights" in speech and thought?  Entitlement may be a byproduct of affluence or a consequence of consumerism. Whatever the cause, this much seems true: Entitlement is the handmaiden of the ego, the sign of our sinful human nature that feels we deserve blessings from God instead of realizing that we deserve nothing and any gifts, blessings, or abundance is due to the grace and mercy of God.Â
Self-examination and repentance are good places to start when trying to combat this sense of entitlement. As we examine our lives and see our sins, we realize more and more that we are not worthy of the least of God's blessings or mercy. This, in turn, drives us to repentance, followed by the sweet words of Grace found in the Gospel, the forgiveness found in Jesus Christ. This, in turn, promotes thankfulness in our hearts and makes us appreciate the riches of God's grace and blessings to us.
On the other hand, people who feel a sense of entitlement, however rich, are truly poor. Instead of knowing life as a gift, life turns into something that's taken for granted -- or worse, begrudged. That's real poverty, and no sense of entitlement can alleviate it.
Rev. Reed Stockman