WithoutWax.tv by Pete Wilson | Tag Archive | entitlement
Tag Archive - entitlement

The Death Of Gratitude

November 21, 2011 in Spiritual Growth with 19 Comments

A couple months ago I heard my friend, Pastor Steven Furtick, say something that cut me to the core. He said,

“You can’t be grateful for something you feel entitled to.”

Ouch! And it’s so true.

I have no clue what you think you may be entitled to. Maybe your…

Car

House

Kids

Spouse

Job

Friends

Education

Church

All I know is whatever you feel entitled to, you won’t be grateful for.

This hit me hard earlier this week. I pulled into my garage where my kids had once again left their toys out. Frustrated, I got out of my truck and huffed and puffed over to the toys, picked them up and threw them into a pile so I could pull in.

As I sat down in my truck to drive into the garage I felt God instantly convict me. It felt like a wrecking ball had just come through the window.

The thought that crossed my mind was this:

Pete, do you know how many parents who have experienced a death of a child who would love to have to move some of their kids toys out of the way so they can park their car?

Pete, do you know how many couples are struggling to have children and would right now sell everything they own to have a child and experience your slight inconvenience?

I can be so ungrateful. I can start to think that I have what I have because I deserve it or it’s somehow owed to me. But it’s not.

Everything I have is the result of the goodness of God.

My relationships are not owed to me.
My job is not owed to me.
This very day is not owed to me.
My next breath is not owed to me.

It’s all a gift. All of it.

What’s one thing you feel entitled to and are therefore missing the opportunity to be thankful for it?

Empire of Entitlement

May 17, 2010 in Spiritual Growth with 42 Comments

There are few things that threaten my ability to live and lead in humility like a spirit of entitlement.

In our culture today it’s real easy to get caught up inside of what’s been called the “empire of entitlement.”  Inside of this empire I start to think…

-Life should revolve around ME.

-Relationships are about meeting MY needs.

-Fruitful ministry is the result of MY effort.

-The things I have are because of MY hard work.

Rob Bell wrote in Jesus Wants to Save Christians …

In an empire of entitlement, when the fundamental awareness is lost that this is all a gift, luxuries can begin to seem like necessities. Excess can become normal. And it can be very easy to lose perspective on just how much we have.”

I have to be very careful, especially when things are going well, that I don’t live inside of the delusions of  this empire for long. As soon as I start to believe that I have what I have because of MY hard work it leads to all kinds of unhealthy extremes. When I sense myself drifting in this direction I have to remind myself of Scriptures like this one in Deuteronomy.  Moses warning is so relevant to many of us today. Especially those of us in leadership.

Deut 8:14-18

14 Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. 15 Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! 16 He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. 17 He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ 18 Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.

Do you ever struggle inside of this “empire of entitlement” forgetting it’s God who gives you the power to accomplish what you accomplish and gain all that you gain?