Fill the Gaps - The Entitlement Trap

As I stepped carefully over puddles and half sidewalks, I could see the smiles coming from through doors and windows. Children came up to us. Parents waved as they held babies. Chickens, dogs, even cows at times roamed the streets, grazing through trash and mud. Barbed wire twisted around some houses, while other houses stood barely held together by sheets of scrap metal and cement blocks. I saw children laughing and playing as they flew plastic bag kites and pulled a milk carton car along the road. Some rolled bike tires down the hills, like it was the best thing ever. I used to ask why does everyone seem so happy here? Maybe it's a front or a face, but there is a genuine way of life that shows contentment as I walk through the village in the Dominican Republic. True, deep contentment. And I finally realized that entitlement is the factor. There is an epidemic of entitlement that runs rampant in America, even with the best of intentions.

Entitlement robs you of contentment. It doesn't take long if you are watching TV, listening to a radio, or walking through a store to realize that our culture and media urges us to think we "deserve" it. Even if you didn't want it before, you find yourself saying, "yeah...maybe I do deserve a (truck, vacation, new house, phone, etc.)" We fail to see what we have all of the sudden and realize we are more wealthy than much of the world we live in already.  Entitlement has you looking at what everyone else has, rather that what you have. Entitlement has you thinking you deserve when in reality we all deserve nothing. As Lecrae's song "Boasting" goes: "Tomorrow's never promised, but it is we swear. Think we're holding our own, just a fist full of air. God has never been obligated to give us life, if we fought for our rights, we'd be in hell tonight. Mere sinners owed nothing but a fierce hand. We never loved Him, we pushed away His pierced hands."

Entitlement says, "I deserve." We were created by an almighty God who can give us what we need when we need it. He gave us exactly what we need to live the best life now and the eternal life after this life, we only need to accept it. We entered this world with nothing, and we can take nothing out of it either. (1 Timothy 6:7)
"I don't deserve bad health."
"I deserve to be noticed."
"I deserve a raise."
"I deserve a better job."
"I deserve to be heard."
"I deserve to go first."
"My kid deserves the best."

We feed this mentality as a culture as soon as our kids are out of the womb. The truth is, our kids don't deserve everything, but sometimes they get everything. The truth is, we don't deserve bad health, but sometimes we're handed that card. We don't deserve anything but condemnation as we stumble around a perfect God. It's harsh, but it's truth. If we don't grasp it, we will be surprised indeed once we reach eternity.

Does this mean we beat ourselves up? Not at all. It means we stop expecting, and we start being grateful. As we continue to look to our model for this series, Ruth, we have seen how much she didn't expect, but showed complete gratitude to her mother in law and to Boaz. She came to this foreign land with Naomi, knowing full well she probably wouldn't have a future there, and started out working hard for her means, and for Naomi's means. She humbled herself to Boaz and showed gratitude for his favor. Ruth didn't expect a single thing. She found contentment.

Furthermore, Ruth's situation was one that anyone had the "right" to be discontented with. Widowed, no signs of a future, and forced to work harder to make a life. There is a good reason Naomi changed her name to Mara (meaning bitter), as Naomi displayed this emotion. And then when Boaz tells Ruth that she needs to wait for him to do the right thing and find a way to marry her legally. As exciting as this is, Ruth was content with this. Whether it worked out or not, she waited.

How do we get by entitlement and the sense of deserving everything in our time, and embrace contentment and gratitude?

Stop asking what people can do for you, and start asking what you can do for them. A huge part of realizing what you have is giving what you have to offer. God's perfect plan is worked into our gifts, talents, skills, resources. When we give, without expecting anything back, we find contentment indeed.

Count your blessings. Sure, your budget isn't as big as the Jones', but you can still get by. Your kids probably have toys that aren't only milk carton cars, but ones you step on every day. Maybe your health is terrible, but you still find joy in the small things that God places before you and you have a different appreciation for life because you know how precious each day is. You may feel like you have nothing, but you have people. You may believe no one is there, but God is, and if you've accepted His grace and gift, you have a gift that will never be taken away. There is always something to be thankful for, and if you can't find one, keep looking.

Let's change the norm in America and fill our gaps with Jesus, not with things we wish we had. Nothing will satisfy more than He.

Scripture to Read:
2 Kings 5:11, Philippians 2:3

Questions to Ponder:
How does entitlement cause us to completely miss seeing grace in our lives?
In 2 Kings we read about Naaman expecting to be healed. How does his attitude reflect one of entitlement and discontentment? What might he be missing in God's plan?
How does not expecting from others help you embrace contentment?

Agape Love - Set Aside the Pride

I hate asking for help, but then get frustrated when no one helps me accomplish something that should be a team effort. I hate asking for help because I feel like every piece of me is weak and it shows hard. Asking for help would be the next level of weakness, and I feel this way because of a dangerous thing called pride. I'm too prideful to say I need an extra buck to get somewhere, or that I need help moving something, or even that I need a prayer. Pride not only deprives me the opportunity to practice humility, but it deprives someone else the opportunity to bless and offer a helping hand.
The time I went through open chest surgery after my daughter was born was humbling for me, yet so frustrating, because of pride. I hated having to be with someone every minute when I came home from the hospital. I hated that I didn't have energy to cook or clean (let's be honest, I still don't!!), and I hated not being able to care for my new daughter without people "checking in". It was a pride issue.
On the flip side, there is a pride from those who think they deserve things to be handed to them. Rather than wanting to lend a hand, they hold their hand out looking for someone to place a "blessing" in it, over, and over, and over, so much so that they don't know how to fend for themselves in life, and pride essentially destroys them.

I have always believed that humility is the most powerful position you can take. It seems like an oxymoron, but there is a deeper understanding when you can take a knee in humility when dealing with people. Pride is the opposite of this position. There is a place of vulnerability that can either be crushed by a person's pride, or affirmed by a person's humility.
Love is humble, not prideful.
Pride has no time of day for anything by oneself. Love gives time freely.
Pride can't see past self. Love sees every opportunity to lend anything they can offer.
Pride is a root of selfishness. Love is selfless.
Pride hardens. Love softens.

There are verses and verses throughout God's word that would tell you how dangerous pride is, and in this case, pride is not an intentional way to pursue agape. It destroys agape because it encompasses every piece of it and makes it negative.
Pride is not patient. Pride is not kind. Pride boasts. Pride is envious...it fits. Pride seems to be the root of the problem in many cases, yet humility and love seem to be the solution.

So how do we strive for humility and try to wipe off pride?

Believe you don't have to be the most intelligent, strongest, and better to do what you are called to do. I think we fall into the pride trap when we believe we are the best, which is never true. The truth is someone else is always better, stronger, and more intelligent. Know that God is the most at everything. He created you with your gifts and He knows you better than you know yourself.

"You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, "you did not make me?" Can the pot say to the potter, "you know nothing?" - Isaiah 29:16

Conquer pride by remembering Who made you and where your role is in that.

Secondly, keep yourself in check. When you start thinking you are indispensable, or better than someone else, or that your accomplishments entitle you, stop. Remember that the ultimate judge is God. Nothing in this world matters beyond eternity.

"For by grace given me I say to every one of you: Do you think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the faith Go has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us..." -Romans 12:3-6a

Conquer pride by remembering that God gave each of us unique gifts and that we are all serving the same purpose as ONE. None of us is better than the other, but God is our greatest pursuit.

Admit your wrongs. When you mess up, confess it. Bring it before God and be sure to say "sorry" to the people you wronged. Saying sorry is probably the most humbling thing you can do in a hot-button, prideful world. I have come to learn that people who won't say "sorry" are the ones who will ditch you under the bus just to keep themselves looking good. Don't be that person. Life's too short to carry around our wrongs, even if you don't think you're wrong. Consider the "what if I am wrong?"

Pride is something that starts very small, but then grows and grows until it's all about you. It may start with an achievement, a reward, but eventually turn into every conversation turning back to your achievements, your qualifications, your experiences, to the point of never wanting to admit you need help. Or that you are wrong. Or that your achievements aren't yours. Keep pride in check and stay humble.

Scripture to Read:
Romans 12:3-6a, Isaiah 29:16

Questions to Ponder:
Where do you struggle in the area of pride?
Which one of the steps can you work on this week to conquer the pride that threatens to come forth from you?
What is something God has done in your life that is truly amazing?

Day 127: When We Fall

Day 127
Judges 11-12; 1 Corinthians 11

We will stumble many times on this earth, regardless of how much we know about God and His commandments. No matter how centered we are in Christ, we will never be as perfect as He is. However, despite our downfalls and stumbling, He is there to make us great in Him again. Today we'll read about offering our worship and how He does that for one of the judges of Israel.

It is quite clear from our reading that Jephthah had a rocky past. He had a mother who was a prostitute, a handful of half brothers who chased him off so he couldn't have any of his father's inheritance, and yet he was called a "great warrior". Despite Jephthah's upbringing and past, God used him to secure Israel over the Ammonites.

One great downfall of Jephthah was that he made vows he didn't have to make, which resulted in him suffering great loss. Jephthah did not need to make a vow to the Lord, asking Him to lead him into victory over the Ammonites if he did something for the Lord. God never asked him to do that. As a result, Jephthah sacrificed his daughter, the first thing that walked out of his house. Do you ever feel so insecure in trusting God that you consider swearing to Him or solidifying it through your actions? "If you do this for me God, then I will do this for You." The problem is, that isn't how God works. He cares about our heart's motives, not our grand gestures of bartering. In fact, Jephthah had sinned in sacrificing his daughter, as it was very clear to the Israelites that this was unacceptable to the Lord as other nations did it in worshiping their gods.

There is equality in worship. Though these words from Paul could raise much debate, the one thing that is clear here is that he was trying to portray equality in worship. When we come before God, ready to express our awe and our thanksgiving to Him, we don't need to be someone fake. We don't need to pretend we are "good enough" to come to Him and feel inadequate because the person next to us is raising their hands. In fact, worship is something that is very intimate between you and God, as He knows your heart and it's motives more than the person next to you ever can. It doesn't matter if you stumbled or if you fell that very morning - God is there, and for that He deserves our worship without worrying about whether or not we are worthy or equal with the person next to us.

The same goes with the Lord's Supper. It is something that makes us one community in Christ, and for that we can come to the table no matter what our past looks like. There is seriousness, however, in the way you approach the Lord's table. Be sincere in your thanks. Don't do it for looks. And check your heart's motives and the relationships in your life. Come before Him without feeling like you need to ever compare your falls with the person next to you.

We all have a past and times we have fallen or will fall. However, we are all still equals in God's eyes. He will use you, if you are willing, no matter what your past says about you, and no matter how badly you will screw up in the future. Come to Him in worship and thanksgiving without looking to your left and right in comparing your worthiness to your neighbor. It is all between you and God and no one else. No One knows your heart and its motives more than He does.

Day 116: Forgetting God

Day 116
Psalms 49-51

We can forget many things throughout a day. Our keys, appointments, names, tasks... Yet one thing we tend to forget that has greater ramifications in our life is God. It is so easy to get caught up in day to day living, that we forget to acknowledge and honor Him. Today, as we pick up Psalms again, we'll discover some things that we tend to forget when it comes to God.

We forget that every possession in this world won't matter and ultimately, we need God in our lives. Money buys a lot of things in this world, but it does not buy the redemption that only Christ gives us. Wisdom dies, wealth is left behind, and lives without Christ ultimately die and only rot in the grave. Those who have put their trust in the Lord will be snatched from death and will experience the ultimate wealth of His Kingdom. We are to boast in God alone, as boasting in wealth and success only lasts a short time. What are things you boast about on this earth that will not matter in eternity? How can you boast in God?

We forget that He is in control and that everything is His. We read that He owns all the cattle, the animals in the wild, and all that is given to us on this earth. He would not even tell us if He is hungry because He owns it all. He does not even need us, yet He chooses to use us in His plan. He cares that much for you that He wants you. What is something in your life that you feel you have no control over? Remember that He is in control of it all. This entire universe (and beyond) belongs to Him.

We forget to praise Him for our blessings and when life is going well. Life gets to be stress free during certain seasons, and it can become really easy to forget God in those times because we simply feel like we don't need Him to solve a crisis. The reality is that we need to praise Him for those blessings He has given to us and for those seasons we have to catch our breath and not worry as much about the stresses of life. He wants us to acknowledge Him in all times, and give Him glory in all times. Thank Him. Praise Him.

We forget that we need to be cleansed when we sin. I truly believe that so many things are done flippantly in our culture, and so many sins have become the "norm". Because of this looseness of our words, our actions, our hearts - we pass it off and continually offend because we are "entitled". God expects more from His people, however. He expects us to honor Him with our words, our actions and our hearts. When we wrong Him in those things, we are to approach Him, asking for forgiveness, and then striving to do better so we may glorify His name. We read about David's struggle with sin in chapter 51, and the sorrow he pours out to God, asking for cleansing and being made right in Him. What are somethings in your life that you do or say that you need to keep in check?

We forget that we have victory in Christ, and to praise Him for it. On the flip side, we can forget to move on from our sin and spend too much time wallowing in it. David states in his cry out to God, "Oh, give me back my joy again, you have broken me - now let me rejoice." We can find joy in the victory of God's forgiveness and unconditional love. David not only was selfish and stole someone else's wife, but he caused murder in the midst of it. Yet God brought him through it and used him still in His plan. We can experience victory when we say yes to Christ and allow Him to rule in our lives. He brings us joy and can right our hearts. Don't feel like you have no chance of being redeemed because He has redeemed you. Rejoice in Him and boast in His love and grace.

In the midst of living this life, don't forget the bottom line. Don't forget what you'll end up with in the end. Don't forget that He is in control. Don't forget to praise Him when life is going well. Don't forget that you need to be cleansed in Him no matter what this culture calls the "norm". Most importantly, don't forget the victory you have or could have in Christ as you pursue Him in this life, and celebrate the life to come that He has enabled us to have if we accept it. Don't forget about God in your life, no matter what season you are in.

Day 89: Ups and Downs

Day 89
Numbers 14-15; Mark 1

Whenever we face a high point in life and in our spiritual walks, we can usually be certain that a downward spiral isn't far behind. While this sounds scary or disheartening, we can rest assured that if we truly place it in the hands of our Father, that upward swing will come back. Today we read about instances in the lives of the Israelites and in Jesus' life of highs and lows. We also discover how important it is to keep Christ at the center and forefront of our lives to keep us in check during those swings.

As we continue to read of the Israelites' dismay at the land that is seemingly impossible to occupy. However, we need to keep in mind all of the miracles and hardships God has already pulled them through to get them there. It is incredibly generous of God to bring them to this land filled with blessing despite the grumblings and complaints of the people all along. Now, as the people continue to grumble and flat out reject the gift from God, the wrath of God pours out on them and is revoked from their generation, with the exception of Caleb and Joshua who had faith. Even after God had taken it away, the people realized they did want the land and tried to occupy it, but were chased far away.

Remember to look at what God has given you and what He has already done for you before complaining about what He is handing you. If you has pulled you out of the muck before, He sure will do it again if it is His will and direction for you. Don't look at the highs as lows in your life. Be thankful for all He has provided and don't wish for more or better. What He has given you is the best for you.

We need to make sure God is a priority in our lives each and every day. When we face those times in our lives that are high, it is easy to forget our dependence on Him and His strength, because it's not a high demand at the time. When we face those low times in life, it is easier to face when we have the relationship with Christ at our right hand, guiding us and showing us how to make it through. The Israelites had standards for coming before the Lord in their sacrifices and how they respected the Sabbath. While those standards aren't held to us and we have the freedom to come before God whenever and wherever we are, it is still important to make it a habit. Because we may not be stoned for dishonoring the Sabbath Day, life may be a little more tricky to navigate without spending time getting to know God and His voice.

Jesus experienced these highs and lows throughout His ministry. As we read about His story through the Gospel of Mark, we can see how Jesus seemed to live from a high to a low and back again. Jesus was baptized, then tempted, and his friend, John the Baptist was arrested. Then He called His disciples and began His ministry, healing many and carrying out the will of His Father.Notice, however that Jesus prays in an isolated place. Even He needed to take time to reconnect with His Father and know the direction He was going in. If Jesus set this example for us, we need to do this more than ever with each day.

One thing I'm intrigued by is the interaction that comes between Jesus and the man with leprosy. This man, who was probably feeling lower than low at the time, tells Jesus "If You are willing, You can heal me and make me clean." How often do you face something so low in life and say to Jesus "if You are willing...?" But do you know what the man did here? He gave the power to Jesus and made it His choice. He would have been fine either way, because he trusted what God was making out of his life that much. Jesus heals him, and tells him not to tell anyone else about it. However, the excitement this man had about being healed was something he couldn't keep to himself, and as a result Jesus was surrounded and followed everywhere He went. This man's low, his fear, became such a huge high and full of faith. Because he shared of his hope and his redemption, the Good News was shared.

You can be on a mountain top right now, or in the lowest pit possible in life, but know that in a blink of an eye, that can all change. How you handle your highs and your lows shares a story about Who Jesus is to you. Is His will enough for you? Don't underestimate a God Who has pulled you through before and complain about what He hands you. Don't neglect your time with Him and forget His voice when life is going well, because when you fall into that pit, you need to remember what His voice sounds like. Share the hope you have and remember to leave the choice in His hands for your life. He is creating something beautiful out of those highs and lows.

Day 87: Comparison Trap

Day 87
Numbers 12-13; 2 Thessalonians 3

Comparison can be the root of many problems in our lives. It brings on pride, gossip, jealousy, misguidance, laziness, distraction, and other various issues. We can choose to put our eyes on what everyone around us has, or how God uses everyone around us and be jealous, or we can remember what He has done for us and thank Him for all He has given us.

I think we all believe to an extent that God has spoken through us. But do you sense the tension of pride in that statement? We may get a little jealous when God has used others in great ways. When we start comparing ourselves and the work we have done to others around us, we set aside Christ and His work. We actually hinder Him from working through us because of our pride. As I read of the situation with Miriam and Aaron play out, I can't help but cringe because I have been that person. The one who looked around me, rather than up and started comparing, then getting jealous, then getting eaten from the inside out with it. The unhealthy place comparing and jealousy puts you is a hard return to what God had intended, and time is lost on your comparison trap. When you can finally let that go, however, and allow your eyes to rest only on Christ, there is something freeing about it.

The pride of ourselves stems from this. When we are prideful, we think way too much of ourselves. This is the opposite of humility, which is something God looks highly upon as a character trait, as we can see from the interaction with Moses, Miriam, and Aaron. Moses' humility stemmed from an ongoing, growing relationship with God. How are you aligning yourself to be a more humble person? That being thinking of yourself less?

Comparison also leads to thinking we're not good enough. As the people scouted out the land they were to receive, they saw the giants there, and figured they couldn't defeat them. The only four that had faith were Moses, Aaron, Caleb, and Joshua. If you can recall, however, God has pulled these people out of some sticky situations before. It was obvious the people weren't looking up at God, but ahead at their problems. Rather than always looking directly at the giants in front of you, comparing them to your capabilities and knowledge, look up and remember where God has brought you. Remember the big problems He worked you through before, and remember that faith doesn't make sense.

When we compare our lives to the lives in this world around us, we can easily set our focus to our world, rather than to Christ. Paul lays out some specific instructions to the people of Thessalonica, that may contradict the people around them and their actions and values. This is tough. In a world of freedom and its own definition of it, it is hard to remember the true freedom that comes from Christ alone. We need to work on comparing what we have to those around us in this world. What the world values isn't what we as Christ-followers are to value. Even what some believers value aren't what we are to value. Paul warns us to avoid lazy believers, or those who refuse to work for their keep. Don't fall into the ideals of life, but run with the path God put you on.

What life are you comparing yours to? Whose face do you think of when you begin to doubt who you are and what Christ is capable of in your life? Turn that face into that of Christ and His power in your life. He has been so faithful to you so far- don't forget that as you look at other places to compare. Allow Him to become your center, in being thankful to Him for everything you have and are. He is our standard to live by. No one and nothing else deserves that spot.

Day 86: False Satisfactions

Day 86

Numbers 10-11; 2 Thessalonians 2

There will always be something to complain about in life. No matter how much you have or how good life is, there is something that could be picked at or better. When we are dissatisfied, we go looking for more or for a fix, which could lead to trouble. When and if we do find that worldly fix, it won’t be long until we are dissatisfied again. Today, we can learn some valuable things from our readings in finding true, and the only lasting satisfaction in Christ alone.

The people led by Moses sure loved to complain. Can you blame them? I think after wondering around the wilderness that long and not knowing what the end was going to be would have me right there with them. The problem with this is that the people failed to see and be thankful for what they did have. The Lord had delivered them from Egypt, even though they started to second guess and think life back there wasn’t so bad after all. The Lord has supplied them with food, even though it was the same thing every day. The Lord also supplied them with great leaders, like Moses and Aaron to interpret what He instructed them. While there are two sides to a situation, the people needed to start seeing the good, rather than what was always bad.

When we complain about everything in our lives, it is easy to take for granted what the Lord has given us. What if instead of complaining every time we felt dissatisfied, we thanked God for what He has given us. I think our attitudes would change quickly. Our complaining not only affects us, but it affects the people in our lives and around us. Even though Moses had been working so hard to follow what the Lord wanted him to do with the people, the complaints seeped through him to the point he lashed out at God, exclaiming how heavy this burden had become. (I feel like this some days with my toddler.) The people didn’t care about Moses and how hard he had worked, only about themselves and what they believed they needed and deserved. Be aware of who is affected by your complaints.

When we are dissatisfied, we may end up with what we want, so be careful. The Lord sent quail to the people, but He also told them He would send so much meat, that they would be sick of it. I can imagine the people complained about the meat after some time, and they do continue complaining later. In our own dissatisfaction of life, we face the temptation to look for something “better” or a “fix”. The people of Thessalonica are warned about falling for false prophesies and false teachings. People can come across as flattering and “right”, but that doesn’t mean they are. A temptation can come up as something you “deserve”, but that also doesn’t make it right. Be careful where you look to for satisfaction. Only Christ can truly offer you that. 

Consider what you are saying to others about Christ if you are constantly dissatisfied. God states in Numbers 11:23: "Is the Lord's arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you."

When we begin to question God, and thinking there is something better out there to satisfy our hearts over Him, it sends a message to others, especially those who don't know Christ, that they don't need Him. That He isn't as great as they have heard. That He is exactly what they thought He was. Be careful! Don't let others stumble over what your little discontentments cause to be an eternal loss. Prove that God is all you need.

Where are you tempted to look for satisfaction in this life? In a relationship? Job? Achievement? It is clear that Christ is the only One Who satisfies. He created our hearts and our entire being and knows what we need. Be careful as you start justifying “what you deserve” and “what would be better”. Those are the times we fall hard over our steps and realize those things never fully satisfy, and soon we’ll be looking elsewhere again for something else to fill the void. Fill it permanently with what Christ offers you.