Living in the Age of Entitlement
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” “You don't know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:35-45)
The date was Thursday, January 19, 1961. The forecast called for a heavy snow to fall that night and into the following morning. The snow was causing no little apprehension for a number of people since the newly elected president, John F. Kennedy, was about to be sworn into office during an outdoor ceremony on the East Front of the Capitol Building. At age 43, he was the youngest man ever to be elected to the highest office in our land. He had won the election by one of the narrowest margins on record for a presidential race. With just 115,000 more popular votes than his opponent, Kennedy was about to become the 35th president of the United States of America. Because of the heavy snow, some lobbied to cancel the outdoor ceremony. But ultimately they were overridden and the ceremony took place as planned. On that cold, frigid day President Kennedy gave one of the shortest and arguably one of the most memorable inauguration speeches ever heard in our nation. The speech, which took only 14 minutes to deliver, was filled with multiple Biblical references as well as several memorable quotes. But perhaps the most memorable line was this: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” President Kennedy was setting the stage for what he considered to be the dawn of a new era for our country, and he needed to establish an effective platform from which his administration could work. Our country was facing some of the deadliest issues it had ever experienced. The posturing between two nuclear nations threatened to lead the world into another world war which would likely annihilate us all. This was no time to deal with an entitlement mentality. Kennedy understood the folly and danger of trying to govern a nation in which everyone was looking for a free handout while at the same time facing serious issues that threatened our national defense. Far from causing our citizenry from turning away, Kennedy’s challenge endeared him to the country. As a nation we heard and understood the danger of living with an attitude of entitlement. In a 14 minute speech Kennedy had inspired a nation of 200 million people to embrace servanthood to others.
Some 2000 years ago, Jesus faced the issue of entitlement during his earthly ministry. Two of his own disciples came to him and asked to occupy thrones of authority on either side of Him. After all, the disciples would certainly be entitled to these positions after everything they had contributed; wouldn’t they? Their request revealed a darker side of their heart. Even though they were walking daily with the Master, their secret desire was that their service to Jesus would be a stepping stone to a higher platform. Ultimately they were more concerned about power and authority – things to which they felt they were entitled. From their point of view, they simply wanted what they felt they deserved. Jesus corrects their faulty thinking by teaching them kingdom principles which stand in contrast to the ways of the world.
Abandon The Struggle To Be First “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to first must be slave of all” (Mark 10:43-44) Quit trying to be first here on earth. In fact if you really want your Heavenly Father to notice, start working at being last. The rat race is the wrong race to run. The first place winner is just the fastest rat! - And that’s not what impresses our Lord. Greatness in our Heavenly Father’s eyes comes not from being the biggest, fastest, or most popular rat in the race. Greatness in God’s eyes comes from meeting needs in another person’s life.
Commit To A Life Of Servanthood Serve others. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) Instead of focusing on others serving us, we need to commit to a life of servant-hood to others. Christ demonstrated it in his life by pointing out that even He didn’t come to be served. And if anyone ever had the right to demand service – he did! Jesus taught, that in God’s economy, the way to the very, very top is to lead an others-oriented life here, to humbly serve God and others. The way up is to be oriented downward.
Dedicate Yourself To Putting Others First Paul writes this amazing little verse in Philippians 2:4, “Look not to your interests only, but to the interests of others as well.” He too was concerned about self-preoccupation, and self-absorption. Near the top of the most difficult conditions to cure in a person’s heart is narcissism. It’s a depraved disorder that believes the whole world revolves around me, that I am the center of the universe, that my needs are more important than yours or anyone else, that my ideas are better than yours, that you exist to serve me. Today’s culture is raising self-preoccupation to an art form. We may be living in the most narcissistic era in history.
Why is this such a big deal in Scripture? Because a life of self-preoccupation never leads to a life of true satisfaction and joy. And conversely, an others-oriented life always leads to life in all its fullness. That’s a value inversion that many people don’t understand readily. It’s a paradox that takes a lot of people a lifetime to sort out. But it’s true, nonetheless.
And so – to piggy-back on President Kennedy’s famous line: “Ask not what others can do for you but ask what you can do for others.” The generation that abandons entitlement and embraces a service-oriented lifestyle through His kingdom will quickly turn their world upside down and bring delight to the heart of God.
Live the Victorious Life,
PT
The date was Thursday, January 19, 1961. The forecast called for a heavy snow to fall that night and into the following morning. The snow was causing no little apprehension for a number of people since the newly elected president, John F. Kennedy, was about to be sworn into office during an outdoor ceremony on the East Front of the Capitol Building. At age 43, he was the youngest man ever to be elected to the highest office in our land. He had won the election by one of the narrowest margins on record for a presidential race. With just 115,000 more popular votes than his opponent, Kennedy was about to become the 35th president of the United States of America. Because of the heavy snow, some lobbied to cancel the outdoor ceremony. But ultimately they were overridden and the ceremony took place as planned. On that cold, frigid day President Kennedy gave one of the shortest and arguably one of the most memorable inauguration speeches ever heard in our nation. The speech, which took only 14 minutes to deliver, was filled with multiple Biblical references as well as several memorable quotes. But perhaps the most memorable line was this: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” President Kennedy was setting the stage for what he considered to be the dawn of a new era for our country, and he needed to establish an effective platform from which his administration could work. Our country was facing some of the deadliest issues it had ever experienced. The posturing between two nuclear nations threatened to lead the world into another world war which would likely annihilate us all. This was no time to deal with an entitlement mentality. Kennedy understood the folly and danger of trying to govern a nation in which everyone was looking for a free handout while at the same time facing serious issues that threatened our national defense. Far from causing our citizenry from turning away, Kennedy’s challenge endeared him to the country. As a nation we heard and understood the danger of living with an attitude of entitlement. In a 14 minute speech Kennedy had inspired a nation of 200 million people to embrace servanthood to others.
Some 2000 years ago, Jesus faced the issue of entitlement during his earthly ministry. Two of his own disciples came to him and asked to occupy thrones of authority on either side of Him. After all, the disciples would certainly be entitled to these positions after everything they had contributed; wouldn’t they? Their request revealed a darker side of their heart. Even though they were walking daily with the Master, their secret desire was that their service to Jesus would be a stepping stone to a higher platform. Ultimately they were more concerned about power and authority – things to which they felt they were entitled. From their point of view, they simply wanted what they felt they deserved. Jesus corrects their faulty thinking by teaching them kingdom principles which stand in contrast to the ways of the world.
Abandon The Struggle To Be First “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to first must be slave of all” (Mark 10:43-44) Quit trying to be first here on earth. In fact if you really want your Heavenly Father to notice, start working at being last. The rat race is the wrong race to run. The first place winner is just the fastest rat! - And that’s not what impresses our Lord. Greatness in our Heavenly Father’s eyes comes not from being the biggest, fastest, or most popular rat in the race. Greatness in God’s eyes comes from meeting needs in another person’s life.
Commit To A Life Of Servanthood Serve others. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) Instead of focusing on others serving us, we need to commit to a life of servant-hood to others. Christ demonstrated it in his life by pointing out that even He didn’t come to be served. And if anyone ever had the right to demand service – he did! Jesus taught, that in God’s economy, the way to the very, very top is to lead an others-oriented life here, to humbly serve God and others. The way up is to be oriented downward.
Dedicate Yourself To Putting Others First Paul writes this amazing little verse in Philippians 2:4, “Look not to your interests only, but to the interests of others as well.” He too was concerned about self-preoccupation, and self-absorption. Near the top of the most difficult conditions to cure in a person’s heart is narcissism. It’s a depraved disorder that believes the whole world revolves around me, that I am the center of the universe, that my needs are more important than yours or anyone else, that my ideas are better than yours, that you exist to serve me. Today’s culture is raising self-preoccupation to an art form. We may be living in the most narcissistic era in history.
Why is this such a big deal in Scripture? Because a life of self-preoccupation never leads to a life of true satisfaction and joy. And conversely, an others-oriented life always leads to life in all its fullness. That’s a value inversion that many people don’t understand readily. It’s a paradox that takes a lot of people a lifetime to sort out. But it’s true, nonetheless.
And so – to piggy-back on President Kennedy’s famous line: “Ask not what others can do for you but ask what you can do for others.” The generation that abandons entitlement and embraces a service-oriented lifestyle through His kingdom will quickly turn their world upside down and bring delight to the heart of God.
Live the Victorious Life,
PT
posted by Larry | 3:17 PM
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