Monday, May 17, 2010

“Those without a sense of entitlement shall inherit the earth.”

“Those without a sense of entitlement shall inherit the earth.” That’s what he said. Well, that wasn’t his only interpretation, but it was there, amongst a variety of illustrations on the nature of meekness.

That brought me up short. Meekness – yes. Meekness is good. But to consciously deny my own rights? My rights! That was something else.

But here he was, saying that it wasn’t something else at all. That meekness involved forgetting one’s own rights. That my “sense of entitlement,” as a wife, as a woman, as a member of society – that had to go.

He did qualify it. “I’m not saying that there can be no communication and talking over of things.” But at its root, he assured us, meekness meant understanding how worthless we are, in ourselves, apart from God.

I don’t know about you, but in my head, I think that I have a right to say that about him, to slice and dice that nasty person with my words. Don’t you see what s/he did? I have a right to expect my husband to do certain things for me, and I certainly have a right to make like a popsicle if he ignores my needs, the insensitive clod. I have a right to get angry at people who toss McDonald’s wrappers in the ditch on *my* property. To feel bitterness towards them as I trudge along with my garbage bag, cleaning up someone else’s stinking mess.

I have a right to that first kiss, when Kevin comes home.

To be thanked, for my time and energy spent in making that meal.

To receive courteous service at the bank and grocery store.

It’s only fair.

Let’s think about fairness for a moment. When Jesus Christ died because I sinned against God, was that fair?

When I consider that, my perspective changes. How can I insist on getting my ‘rights,’ when Jesus put everything He was rightfully entitled to aside, choosing mercy and love instead?

And how can I do just the opposite, insisting on my rights at the expense of mercy and love? Now *that* wouldn’t be fair.

Inheriting the earth aside, the sense of entitlement needs to go!

And what a nice bonus that is; inheriting the earth. It’s very encouraging, as I carry on in meekness, even when those McD wrappers pile up and the first kiss goes to the baby.

3 comments:

  1. Hmmm. Yes, I agree everyone else should be meek! I recently took a "are you a narcissist?" test. It was kind of a joke, I knew I didn't spend hours in front of the mirror, I spend most of my day working for my family and friends, I've never been to a spa :) So how high could I score? My score on most things was low - but my entitlement score was relatively high. I was indignant. I have lots to say about our entitlement culture. Surely I wasn't guilty of the same thing...

    Then I looked at the questions again and was really convicted. I think I have often mistaken was *is* right for *my* right - children should obey their parents becomes I have a right to be obeyed; people should be polite becomes I have a right to be treated politely... etc. I must teach and am responsible to act rightly, but it is not my right to be acted rightly toward. Good entry, Mrs. Horsman! A good reminder for a Monday morning!

    Melissa

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  2. Great post Dinah!

    Meekness is not easy, and bitterness seams to come out of our veins more freely then we could wish for.

    Being more like Him demands from us a conscious effort but the blessing that comes after we let go of our selfish-sinful-all-about-me tendency are so much more then we realize.

    I remember reading Passionate housewife desperate for God book and that was the core of the book, being a willing servant or meek spirit and putting others needs before ours was life changing for me.

    Yes there is lots of improvement that I wish I had, lots of things or wants (not needs) that I feel I deserve etc.. I do not say that I don't ask for them, I do, Yes I ask then once and let the final decision into the hand of and other. I may or may not get it, and I have no control over it, but I can only control my selfish nature and bitterness.

    "Hebrews 12:15 (New International Version)

    15See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."

    We sometime think that is our "due" to have certain thing, but we have to remember that we have more then we deserve.

    Thanks for sharing this with us sister :-)

    Renee

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  3. Looking at Christ puts a lot of things into perspective! So easy to get caught up in the 'here-and-now' of things.

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