When I studied and taught Ethics at a local college, I first came across an interesting word called "entitlement". I found the word fascinating on several levels. For one, I had never related entitlement to ethics before, for two, it seemed to have a lot more behind it than one first sees.
I think I was intrigued because we live in a society that honors, respects and even promotes entitlement. T.V. commercials capitalize on how you deserve something - a break, a product, vacation, or whatever needs to be sold.
The heart of America's story is built around hard work and the reward that is entitled to those who work hard.
I was intrigued because entitlement is usually right and good. Even the Bible says that "the worker deserves his food".
Because entitlement is so promoted in society and because it is so right in so many areas, entitlement is possibly one of the best covers for unethical behavior that has ever existed. Entitlement says, "You deserve", or "You earned the right to something". Entitlement says, 'It is good". Entitlement beautifully hides every evil it can produce.
THE PROPHETS OF ISRAEL
The Old Testament prophets preached that Israel and Judah fell because of their sins. Most Christians today believe that the sins were sexual sins or sins of rejecting God. But that is not the case. Even though these may be sin, they were not the focus of what the prophets preached against. Sexual sins were not the main reason that Isreal and Judah fell.
Before I go on, I need to spell out that when modern preachers refer to the sin of rejecting God, they are right in doing so. This is biblical and within the context of Isaiah. I have no quarrel with this. What I do have an issue with is their complete ignorance of what the prophets said about the poor and the powerless, and that the same sin permeates our society today with little or nothing said about it from the pulpits.
The prophets who spoke before the fall of Israel and the fall of Judah said very little about sex. When they did mention adultery, it usually was related to people worshipping other gods. Idolatry was the adultery that was hurting the God of the prophets. This is not to say adultery is o.k. I am just stating a fact - the prophets were not as concerned about sexual sins as they were about other sins that come a lot closer to us than we realize.
Before Israel and Judah fell, prophets preached most of all against idolatry (worshipping other gods) and economic injustice.
Look at Isaiah. Thousands of preachers have preached, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool (Is. 1:18)". I have never heard any preacher bring in the context of this verse. Every one I have heard focused on modern sins such as abortion and homosexuality and sexually impure thoughts, anger, or more often than not, just plain old undefined "sin". I have yet to hear any message that focuses on the real reason that Israel and Judah fell.
When Isaiah preached his sermon about sin and forgiveness in Isaiah 1:18 (quoted above), he was standing before the rulers of Judah telling them that they were judging in favor of the rich and powerful and against the poor and powerless. They were taking bribes. This theme is repeated over and over in the first few chapters of Isaiah.
The prophets did not stop with the rulers of Judah and Israel; they also spoke out against the rich who were rich while the poor were getting poorer. There was a direct correlation between the two in the prophets. This is contrary to the view of entitlement.
Entitlement says that we deserve what we get and even more. Entitlement says we deserve what we get and that if others were as brilliant, or as hard working, or as good, or as righteous, then they too would be entitled.
Sometimes there is some truth to this. In fact, there are enough examples to make this seem to be a very legitimate template. But it is far from universal. In other words, entitlement hides behind those few examples that serve its needs. Entitlement champions itself.
During the prophet's day, the rich (many of who considered their money as a reward for their righteousness) lent money to the poor, to those who had a bad year or two, to those who were facing hard times. In return they received interest paid on top of their returns. The lenders were entitled to extra money, just as bankers are today, and when people couldn't pay back, they lost their children to slavery. Eventually, they were also sold into slavery.
This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back {my wrath}. They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals (Amos 2:6).
The rich did not see it the same way that Amos did. They believed that they were entitled to the interest and that the poor deserved the problems they had. It is the same today.
NOT ALL ENTITLEMENT IS THE SAME
Entitlement comes in many forms, but always has the same central theme - "I deserve." Entitlement does not share the whole story with one who is entitled. It does not enable one to see what it does to others either directly or indirectly.
There are also different levels of entitlement. Some are entitled temporarily or for the rest of their life for something they earned, and some believe they are entitled for the rest of their life for being who they are.
Some grasp for the entitlement they have, fearing its loss; while others grasp for entitlement they believe they deserve, but cannot get.
Some are legitimately entitled to something, but get so used to it, that they expect it, become proud, and/or hold on to it, even when it is time to let go.
JESUS AND ENTITLEMENT
Jesus was entitled to his position in heaven, but emptied himself of all of his entitlement in order to serve us.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:5-11)
Jesus set the example that we should abandon self-entitlement for the sake of others. Whether we are entitled to a way of life, or to certain rewards, we should sacrifice.
CONCLUSION
Is all entitlement evil? No.
If I deserve to be entitled, can it ever be wrong? Yes. Sometimes, we need to sacrifice entitlement for the sake of others just like Jesus did.
Does anybody always see the difference between good and bad entitlement? No. Entitlement serves self-interest too much. But make no mistake, we will be judged on Judgment Day according to how we have followed in Jesus' footsteps and sacrificed what was our due.
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