People can be entitled. In fact, I would go so far as to say basically everyone, to some degree or another, in one way or another, struggles with entitlement. It’s one of the easiest sins to fall into. All it takes to be entitled is to have a thought that begins with “how come I…” or “What about me…” or “I should be the one to…”

Entitlement is the belief that you are owed something…anything. It doesn’t have to be in comparison to someone else, though that’s a common way it is manifested: An entitled person might say “he gets to do that, so I should to…” It could be individually-focused, with a person being so caught up in their own world, and so encased in their own bubble that they don’t even think about other people at all; they just walk around the world thinking everyone owes them whatever they want. It’s also seen, not in the expectations of something, but in the failure to get something: If you’ve ever seen a temper-tantrum when someone is told “no” you’ve seen an entitled person. And I’m not talking about a three year old at Wal-Mart; I’m talking about a thirty year old who thinks that whatever they want, because they want it, should be done, and if it’s not, they’re going to complain about it (and loudly). That’s entitlement.

Basically it’s the belief that your opinions, desires, plans, and goals are so important that the world might as well stop spinning if we all don’t just bow down and submit.

It manifests itself in more subtle ways too, and in ways we don’t always see right away. The person who just has to be front and center all the time, who just has to make sure everyone knows how important they are, who just has to get a pat on the head for doing the simplest tasks, and who just has to horn in and try to micro-manage every little thing is an entitled person. It’s also a person who is terribly insecure and needy, but entitlement is there too, because they are living off the mistaken belief that they are more important than anyone else and that the world would simply stop spinning if they didn’t get their way.

It’s the kind of attitude that compels someone to say “look at the service I did; look at me serving; I’m doing it, everyone! See me!  Look how important I am! I’m a servant!”

You’re supposed to be a servant! No one’s impressed.

Thus saith the Lord…

Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not!
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.’

(Luke 17:9-10)

A servant doesn’t stand around waiting for a thank you. A servant doesn’t run around trying to boss around other servants. A servant doesn’t try to run the business of the master. You know what a servant does? A servant works. A servant follows. A servant serves. Entitled servants don’t exist; the term itself is an oxymoron because entitlement leads to presumption, arrogance, and the expectation of greater things than what is actually owed. Even leaders—good leaders—are servants at heart. Do you know what a leader is? A leader is a servant in the front of the line. We are all followers of Jesus and what did He do? He served!

So when the opportunity to serve comes your way, don’t look for ways to take over, to micromanage, to boss around, or to put a spotlight on yourself. When the opportunity to serve comes your way, just be quiet and serve. And don’t expect a thank you for doing your job. You signed up for Christianity, and for all the service that comes with it. Yes it is the case that following the Master is a life that brings tremendous reward to all who remain faithful. But in the meantime, we serve.

Or, to put it another way; in the words of one of the great poets of our modern era…

~ Matthew