I know that in the US it is easy to talk about all the ways people act entitled to something. Many of us get frustrated by those that only seem to take from the system. I know I have made such comments at some point. However as I’ve begun working here in Cambodia I am realizing the things that I often feel entitled to (if only because I have always had certain things available). Whether it’s a warm shower, bed, or a house built at a certain level of quality I am realizing that many comforts I have been blessed with have created a certain sense of ‘I deserve…..’
Now some people just believe that if you want these things you should be willing to work for it. In US culture its generally believed that hard work should eventually lead you to success and some level of prosperity. Yet I just left a village where people sift through the garbage dumps to support their families. These people are not lazy but they may never earn more than 2-3 dollars a day if that.
Which made me realize something else. In the US we take for granted, perhaps even feel entitled, to a fair and just system. In general I think most agree that fairness and justice is the bare minimum of human decency that most countries, cultures and civilizations should aspire to. Yet corruption is commonplace in most countries beyond what most of us have experienced much less think that we would tolerate.
So all this to say I have been reexamining where I struggle with entitlement in my life. But the example that I need to remember is Christ and what He gave up even though He is the only One who exists who is truly entitled to anything. He laid down everything He was deserving of to show us what really matters.
“ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8
Just to clarify to anyone reading this who doesn’t know me. I am not saying that money, being comfortable, and having nice things are bad. This is not my point. All I am trying to communicate is that I am discovering within myself attitudes I didn’t even realize I had. I am hoping I don’t forget this lesson anytime soon. For now though I am simply asking God to teach me to let go of comfort and the belief that I should receive anything based on previous experience or personal merit.
