These days we are bombarded with relentless advertisements telling us, "you deserve... Or you owe it to yourself...." This is the entitlement attitude and it is self-seeking and centered. The entitlement attitude is is pursuing our own agenda without thinking of others or God, or just thinking that God owes me something.
God owes me nothing.
In fact, what we deserve from God is death and hell!
The wages of sin are death. Romans 6:23
God doesn't owe us comfort, abundance, or a perfect life without problems. He gives because he wants to, not because he has to. He is the center and all things exist for his pleasure. What he gives is grace through his unconditional love. In John 1:12, it says the only thing we ARE entitled to through faith in Jesus to forgive and save us, is to be called children of God. Wow! Think about it--he claims me--little ol' me. But, it's what we do with that one entitlement that determines whether we have an entitlement attitude or a servant's heart.
So, our response should be "Here I am, Lord, your servant is listening," just as Samuel replied.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:3-8
The bottom line? Trust God with your needs. He owes you nothing. Thank him for what he has provided for you, for all of it comes from him. Ask where you can serve him instead.
God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
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