The Power to Conquer Entitlement

Introduction: How many of you could define what entitlement is? Entitlement is the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment. As humans we were all born with a sense of entitlement. We can observe this in babies who will cry simply because they are not getting the attention they believe they deserve, but the moment everyone in the room turns to look at that baby and give him attention he smiles like nothing was ever wrong. In his heart that baby is saying, “I am pleased because I got everyone’s attention and it has been proven that I am worth it.”

As children grow older entitlement can be seen in different ways.

Example: Kayson during prayer.

As children then grow into teens and adults it is then expressed in different ways.

Self-pity

Justified anger

Expectation of privilege

Everything belongs to me

My wants and expectations come before anyone else’s

In recent years several news outlets including US News, CNN, Fox News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, as well as some others have reported that America is being overwhelmed with an unprecedented “entitlement epidemic.”

This is evidenced in advertisements we have seen lately. Advertisements always communicate what people want to hear in order to sell more products. In other words effective advertising comes alongside you and whispers a word of validation in your ear so that you say, “That company gets me. I can support what they are saying.” So when a makeup commercial comes on and says, “You’re worth it,” you say, “Well, yes I am! Here’s my money!” Let’s consider a couple popular examples.

Insert commercials

My goal for tonight is to challenge you to defy your generational norms. They are calling your generation the “Me! Me! Generation.” My goal is not to discourage you based on what people are already saying about you, but rather to encourage you and present you with an opportunity to be different in a self-absorbed world.

What does the Bible say about entitlement?

An Entitled Request

Matthew 20:20-

Matthew 20:20–22 NKJV

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.”

Transition: Can you imagine you mom walking into your school and asking your teachers something like this?

The Power to Serve

Can you imagine you mom walking into school and asking your teachers something like this? The heart behind this request is the exact opposite of the heart that Jesus desired for his disciples, and so he responds in this way:

The heart behind this request is the exact opposite of the heart that Jesus desired for his disciples, and so he responds in this way:

Matthew 20:2

Matthew 20:24–26 NKJV

And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.

Matthew 20:24–28 NKJV

And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:

Jesus begins by pointing out how people normally view power. People normally view power as the ability to command others, or the ability to get things done without doing anything yourself. What makes this kind of power powerless is that we are all born this way. We are all born selfish and desiring for others to do things for us. It takes absolutely no power or effort to develop a heart that issues commands, but it takes great power to control our natural inclinations and humble ourselves to serve others. Proverbs says something similar.

Proverbs 16:32 NKJV

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

It takes no power to explode in anger, but it takes great power to control your own spirit. It takes no power to issue commands but it takes great power to humbly serve.

Jesus is the ultimate example of this. God Himself became a man by wrapping Himself in human flesh and served by giving His own life for others.

Conclusion: So, how can we obtain the power to serve?

1 Peter 4:11 NKJV

If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus calls us contrary to the world’s way of thinking about entitlement and power. In Christ we are given the power of God over the horrible love of selfish entitlement, and when we humbly server others God gets the glory.