General Petraeus joins the list of proud, powerful men who thought they were entitled to anything and invulnerable to its consequences, e.g., Bill Clinton, John Edwards, Elliot Spitzer. Of course it doesn't always lead to adultery. Currently, three other 4-star generals are under investigation for taking government resources for personal use. Nor is it limited to government leaders. Anyone in a position of authority—policemen, doctors, teachers, clergymen—can abuse it.
As a student of human behavior, it appears to me that a culture that values self-esteem as ours does is a breeding ground for such entitlement—even in Christian leaders. Remember the warning by Paul that in the latter days, men would be lovers of self (2 Tim 3:2)? When God gave the Promised Land to the Israelites, He knew they would be vulnerable to the pride of success.
Thus He warned: “Beware that in your plenty you do not forget your God… For when you have become prosperous and have built fine homes to live in… be careful! Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you... and did it all so you would never say to yourself, 'I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy’… Remember the Lord is the one who gives you power to be successful” (Deut. 8:11-17, edited).
The battle for extending the Bush tax cuts starts today. While I am not wanting to turn this devotional blog into a political opinion column, doesn’t common sense dictate that eventually we are going to have to pay higher taxes? All economists agree on this one thing: our grandchildren will have a huge debt (in the form of enormous taxes) if we don’t stop spending “their” money. Not taxing ourselves now only delays the inevitable. But no one is willing to sacrifice their comfort.
A spirit of sacrifice existed during World War II that is conspicuously absent today. Sugar, butter, meat, cheese, eggs, milk, tea, chocolate, clothes, rubber, and gasoline were all rationed (willingly) in order to aid the war effort. But Stanford University historian David M. Kennedy says, "We are now waging war on the cheap, and not asking much either materially or psychologically from the society at large." But if war costs and casualties grow, Kennedy wonders "will the public be prepared to embrace a spirit of sacrifice at home" in the form of higher taxes or economic restrictions. "I'd surely bet against it," he said.
I can’t help but wonder how much this age of narcissist entitlement is affecting our spiritual warfare mentality? Are we trying to "wage war on the cheap," with as little cost to our comfort as possible? Do we have the spirit of sacrifice? Will we still be picking up our cross and following Jesus when it hurts? When it's messy? Are we prepared to embrace the spirit of sacrifice? Jesus said when you go to war, you need to consider the cost (Luke 14:31).
On our first day in San Ignacio, Belize, I noticed a young boy with a shoe shine box, looking for customers. I felt like giving him money, but he disappeared before I could. The next day I saw him again, but then he vanished. You see, since I had not seen any other children working, or even begging, he stood out, and I was curious to know more about him. On our third day, while sitting in a patio café, I saw him yet again, bent over someone’s feet, shining shoes. And as soon as he finished Altha and I beckoned him over to our table, where, quite amazingly, though he spoke only Spanish, we enjoyed a wonderful conversation.
His name was Selvin; he was almost 13. He told us how he lived just over the border in Guatemala, coming over to ‘work’ his trade among the tourists in San Ignacio. An orphan living in his aunt’s tiny, over-crowded house, he had to work to help buy food. Of course, we paid for Selvin's dinner and gave him some money before he took the bus back to Guatemala; we didn't see him again.
In our privileged country of social services and entitlement programs, it is too easy to forget the Selvins of this world. God used our encounter to remind us that child labor in many third world countries is a necessary way of life. But just imagine being a child alone in a ‘developing’ country. Imagine growing up without the love and guidance of a parent, living without a reliable source of food, shelter, medicine, or clothing. This is the life millions of children all over the world. What’s my point? Only this: ask the Lord to show you what you can do, to help a third world child. Sponsor a child or volunteer in some way. And if you can’t, then find and support an organization that is. Because Jesus said, “when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters [to Selvin], you were doing it to me” (Matthew 25:40).
The phrase "There's no such thing as a free lunch" is a familiar saying, meaning you can’t get something for nothing. Even when something appears to be free, there is always a hidden cost.
Political conservatives are criticizing the present Administration for promoting a “free lunch” ideology unlike anything since FDR—they fear it is fostering government-dependence and diminishing personal responsibility. This last year, the federal government offered financial incentives to people if they would buy automobiles, homes and appliances, in the form of tax breaks and refunds—in other words, paying Americans to buy things. The problem with the strategy of incentives is that they can turn into entitlements—the temporary tax break becomes permanent and everyone gets a free lunch!
Ironically, our government does give away free lunches. For 60 years, the National School Lunch Program has provided lunches to public school children for free… well, not exactly free—but at an annual cost of $10 billion to tax payers.
God’s grace is free; salvation is free; God freely blesses His children. But we must not forget that many of God’s blessings are conditioned on man’s response. An incorrect balance of the two can result in an ‘entitlement’ mentality, which begs the question: are God's promises conditional? Take a look at the beatitudes or other divine blessings, and you will find each blessing has a condition—“Blessed is the one who hungers and thirsts;” “blessed is the one who perseveres under trial;” blessed is the one who fears God.” These blessings are only for those who meet the condition of hunger, perseverance, and fear. Come to think of it, even though God's salvation is free, SOMEONE had to pay for it!
In yesterday's San Jose Mercury, I read an article about “The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement,” a newly published book by Jean Twenge and Keith Campbell. They address the narcissistic attitudes of the “Me Generation”—young Americans in their teens, 20’s and 30’s: now being labeled the “Millennial Generation.”
The authors attribute the narcissistic trend to a culture that builds a false sense of self-esteem by: enlightened ‘non-judgmental’ parenting; an education philosophy that rewards everyone equally; the Internet avenues of expression, like “Facebook” which allows anyone to create their own idealized persona; a celebrity culture (American Idol) that encourages the notion that anyone can be (and ought to be) famous; and easy credit which promotes instant gratification.
The authors say: “Narcissism is absolutely toxic to society: they feel entitled [but] don’t think about consequences." Twenge suggest that this 'entitlement' mentality might have helped cause America's economic crisis.
In light of this, look at the words [abreviated for emphasis] of Paul in 2 Timothy 3:1-4: But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, ungrateful … without self-control … reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
