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It seems to me that the discussion of entitlements and rights is very much wrapped up in the discussion of pride and humility. Our pride causes us to believe that we deserve something because of who we are. Humility helps us to give up our rights for the sake of someone else. All of us have an ongoing struggle in our hearts between pride and humility.
It also seems to me that it’s wrapped up in the idea of loss. We are afraid that we will lose something if we don’t get what we believe we deserve. If we aren’t treated as we think we deserve we will lose honor or respect. If we aren’t taking care of as we believe we deserve we may not have the comfort or safety that we desire. The problem is, God never promised us comfort, or safety, or honor, or recognition for anything that we can do or have done.
What is your heart answer when you think about the question, “What do you really want?” For most of us and probably all of us the answer is not God. What we want is focused on our creature comforts, our human desires , and mostly on this life, here and now.
We want to have a comfortable house, a nice car, a tasty meal and a lifestyle that we feel we deserve. It seems a far cry from following Jesus, who said that the Son of Man has no place to lay his head, and asks us to deny ourself, take up our cross, and follow him. I’m not sure where we get the idea of safety, comfort and all of these material goods as part of that package. Maybe it was in the fine print?
Why is there such a disconnect between what the Bible teaches and what we say we believe and how we think and live? I think it’s the whispering of the serpent in the garden in our ear, telling us that we deserve more. The idea of sacrifice and service to others requires too much. Too much effort, too much sacrifice. We shouldn’t have to give up our rights, our comforts, our safety, just because Jesus ask us to follow him.
Spiritual warfare is for others, sacrifice is for others, service is for others. Certainly we understand that the cause of Christ is important, that the world needs to hear the message of the gospel, but that’s something that someone else is responsible for, not me.
Because thinking of others is so foreign to us, we can only only see what we want. Our hearts desires control us and drive us. Life is about us. And is life is about us, obviously we deserve a certain kind of treatment.
We feel that we deserve certain things just because we exist, but that’s not true. What we deserve is to be eternally separated from God. Fortunately God has reached out and given us so much that we don’t deserve. Everything we have is a gift from him. If we understand that we can live a life of Thanksgiving. Humility takes the place of pride, service and sacrifice seem reasonable in light of all we have received. We will have the ability to joyfully approach each day.
To fully follow Jesus means to give up our rights (not hard since we don’t have any), accept his gifts, and join Him on a journey of Faith.
You have to give up the right to your time. It is important to understand that you have been given time and energy and a certain degree of health and now you are a steward of all you have received. You were an ignorant steward without Christ, but in Christ, you know what a gift you have. A weight of responsibility is lifted, you no longer have to “succeed”, whatever that means. You only have to follow Jesus and use His resources to accomplish His purposes. He will succeed.
You have to give up the right to your relationships. Your relationships are given to you by God although we don’t often think if them that way. Your ability to have a relationship is given to you by God. It is part of being made in the image of God. God is relational. He communicates. He desires fellowship.
You don’t have the right to have enough, whatever that means. Instead of relying on enough, whether that’s time, health or money, we learn to trust God to supply our needs. We don’t have a right to have our needs met. But we often have the joy of having our needs met by an awesome God. Along the way He fulfills needs that we didn’t know we had. Needs for worship. Needs to know our Creator.
We live in a society that doesn’t value humility or self-sacrifice. But we serve a God who not only values it but modeled it for us in the life of Jesus. While most people search for significance and temporary fame in this life. Jesus leads to a path of eternal significance and true value that doesn’t fade like the newest Youtube sensation. Youtube fame may be measured in the approval of millions of people. Real value is found in the approval of ONE. It is found following a path that few take. A path of humility and service. A path of sacrifice.
But on this path we meet others who travel with us. Family, united by a bond stronger than DNA, national pride, or culture. We are united by blood. The blood that was shed to remove the barrier of sin and give us access to our heavenly Father. We are united in a family that will be together for eternity. Each member loved and appreciated.
We live is a world that values rights. But I relinquish my rights and claim a promise. The promise of Jesus to never leave me nor forsake me. The promise that His completed work on the cross is sufficient. The promise that His resurrection will be my resurrection one day. The promise that He who started a good work in me will complete it.
I have chosen the ancient path. I want to live with my focus on the footprints of Jesus, leading me home. And I accept the challenge to deny myself, give up whatever rights I have and follow Him. Will you go with me?
Thanks for joining me today. You can always write to norman@runwithhorses.net with questions or comments or suggestions for future topics. All past shows are available at www.runwithhorses.net or rwh.podbean.com and on most platforms where you listen to podcasts.
Keep your eyes on Jesus and never stop running!