Are we ALWAYS entitled?

The word “entitled” simply means having a right or prerogative in a certain situation or predicament. There are many situations that arise in life that give us a sense of entitlement. For an example, when we take a purchase back to a retailer we are entitled to get a refund. When we file our taxes and it pans out that the government owes us a return; we are entitled to a refund check. When we put in the time and work a 40 hour week we are entitled to a compensation check. Our entitlement creates within us an expectation to receive something or to be allowed to something. It is socially acceptable to take advantage of what we are entitled to. If someone mistreats us… we are entitled a chance to retaliate (according to society) within certain guidelines. When some one upsets us, we are entitled (again, according to what is socially acceptable in this world) a chance to express ourselves in a way that makes them aware that we are upset. However, as a child of God, are we ALWAYS entitled to these kinds of things? Do we have the right (as a Christian) to mistreat those who mistreat us? Are we entitled (as Christians) to an apology before we decide to forgive someone? Are we entitled to ground someone to dust with our words because they did something that we considered to be careless? Are we entitled to disrespect someone because everyone else does?

The answer to each of the questions listed above is a resounding NO!!!! Let’s break down what the apostle Paul says in Ephesians 4:32 “AND BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER….” This means that we don’t have the right to mistreat anyone regardless of their situation. God simply says… BE KIND. The word "kind" means of a sympathetic or helpful nature. This means that our attitude should always be one that seeks to help and not hurt… build up and not tear down, strengthen and not weaken. If this is what God expects of us as Christians, then this means that we give up any entitlement to treat others in ways that are not sympathetic or helpful. This is not as easy as it sounds. As a matter of fact it is quite easy to be kind to people who are “Ok” in our book. Yet when it comes to those who do not have attractive personalities God basically says “Give up your sense of entitlement to mistreat or disrespect this individual”. This is one of the greatest challenges of Christianity. However, practical Christianity demands kindness to one another unconditionally. No matter what the nature of the relationship, genuine Christianity demands kindness. It demands a relinquishing of your entitlement to mistreat and disrespect. The next word in our text (Ephesians 4:32), is “TENDERHEARTED”. The word that the apostle Paul uses in it’s original language is eusplagchnos. Thomas Nelson’s illustrated bible dictionary defines it as easily moved by another’s distress. The truly tenderhearted Christian can not bring him or her self to mock someone in their distress. As a Christian you are not entitled to embrace a “that’s what you get” mentality. As a matter of fact, you don’t want to see a person in distress even if they have caused you some distress. As you are reading this, you may say “this can’t be realistic, there is no one who can have a heart for those who have hurt them or who is the cause of their own trouble”. These are the words of the enemy. God would not ask or demand that we do or be something that is impossible for us to fulfill. A tenderheart comes from a person who has the gift of sensitivity to others. This is the same spirit that Jesus demonstrated on the cross when while they were nailing him he cried “father forgive them for they know not what they do” .

Until next Blog,

J.K. Hamilton