The beginning of the Declaration of Independence reads:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
According to the Declaration, we are born with rights! It’s great to live in a country where we are granted these rights. Many people in the world do not have such rights available. And the truth of the matter is that the United States has not been consistent in protecting these rights for all people. So the question to be asked is if we truly have rights?
The idea of rights is largely an American concept and not so much a Biblical one. God does not owe us anything. We are not entitled to his provision. But it is by his grace and mercy that we live and have salvation. Everything is a gift. Everything is grace. Nothing have we earned. We can live grateful every day that we have what we have.
Everything has a cost. Think about salvation. Your salvation is a free gift. But the price of your salvation was the innocent suffering and death of Jesus. Salvation is not your right. It is God’s gift!
But an entitlement mindset sets in. A problem in our culture is when we start to receive benefits but the cost is shouldered by someone else. It is happening more and more in subtle and not-so-subtle ways.
You see it on the road when there is a backup. A driver will cut in at the last moment to save time waiting in that backup. It backs up the line even more. The time saved by the single driver is shouldered by the other drivers who now wait longer in the line.
You see it in politics where the politicians promise more and more free stuff to get elected. The constituents then expect the handouts. But nothing is free and someone always needs to shoulder the cost. But we are led to believe that we are entitled.
Entitlement starts with thinking we are more important than everyone else. It may come in the form of thinking that we are deserving because we endured a greater hardship. It also happens when we become accustomed to affluence that was not obtained through individual merit.
Beware when you start claiming rights! If you live life thinking things are owed to you, you will go through life disappointed. No one owes you anything.
- No one owes you respect. You earn it.
- No one owes you money. You earn it.
- No one owes you success. You earn it.
- No one owes you acclamation. You earn it.
- No one owes you salvation. But Jesus earned it.
It is wonderful when we receive undeserving privileges but always remember it is not our right. It is grace. At the top of that list of undeserving privileges is God’s gift of salvation.
Barbara Elder says
Amen…..thank you for writing this message. We all need to pay attention and realize we get things in life not because we are entitled to them but because we worked hard to achieve them. Our savior, Jesus Christ gave us the ultimate gift…..HIS LIFE FOR OUR SALVATION.