Entitlement...

UPDATED RESOURCES:  It appears this topic is really hitting a nerve in families and in the church.  I have found and would recommend the following resources to be considered by parents and youth/children's ministers.

  1. The Entitlement-Free Child by Karen Deerwester
  2. Give Me, Get, Me, Buy Me by Donna Corwin can be reviewed at www.donnacorwin.com
  3. Generation Me by Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D. focuses more on teens and twenties.
  4. Is It A Lost Cause? by Marva J. Dawn helps church parents and church leaders to evaluate their youth in light of church programming.  How do parents and churches cooperate to support their youth growing up in a Post-modern culture.
  5. Parenting Beyond your Capacity by Reggie Joiner & Carey Nieuwhof describes an expanded curriculum called "Orange" to help parents and Church leaders to create synergy for raising up the next generation in faith.

 

This picture and a book I got for Christmas  “THE POOR WILL BE GLAD – Joining the revolution to lift the world out of poverty”  has once again stirred up a long standing string of thoughts I have had over the past year.  What is a “sense of entitlement?”  How do you recognize it?  Do I have one?  Do I promote one? What does Jesus think about a sense of entitlement?  These are more questions than I can answer here, but I can point you to some good food for thought:

A self-analysis of Entitlement Syndrome with some Scriptures for reflection. IDENTIFYING A PERSON WITH ENTITLEMENT SYNDROME

An insightful story from an excerpt of the book “THE POOR WILL BE GLAD”

A book many of our church leaders are using to guide them in benevolence counseling: "When Helping Hurts" by Steve Corbett and  Brian Fikkert

If you are brave enough to think about how the entitlement syndrome is effecting our government you might consider looking here.

I have decided that I do struggle somewhat with a sense of entitlement.  I’m not sure how you can be an American, have a good work ethic and not struggle with this at least a little.   I think people that have played more than they have worked have a very deep sense of entitlement and can’t/ won’t/ refuse to see it.   A low self image kicks in overdrive a video tape that plays over and over in their minds – I can’t take responsibility for my needs.  Jesus is ready to say to anyone that is honest, “You are right, but stop being a wicked lazy servant and try.  I will take care of the rest!”  (Consider John 15:4 and Matthew 25:14 – 30)

This study has also revealed in me a very low tolerance for those who live day to day by working their sense of entitlement.   I must keep reminding myself that people who don’t KNOW JESUS can’t deal wisely with the concept of entitlement (2 Corinthians 3:14-16).  It is a deception from Satan that started with Eve and Adam (Genesis 3:4-7).  My best hope for helping those buried beneath a sense of entitlement is to demonstrate for them how Jesus has helped me deal with my sense of entitlement.  That takes away the arrogance and capitalizes on the Grace that teaches us to say no to ungodliness (1 Peter 3:15 and Titus 2:11-14).    Lord help us all! – And He will!!!

Evangelism, Family, Leadership, Uncategorizeddougdelp