"Entitled"

 Sometimes I really wonder,

Why folks sincerely feel,

That they are entitled,

To receive a better deal.

And, yes, there should be fairness,

And justice done for all,

But that’s not what they’re asking for,

When it comes down to it, y’all.

You owe me they are saying,

But not for what you did,

But for what happened long ago,

Long before we rid,

Ourselves of how it used to be,

And thank God it is true,

But paying for another’s crime,

Is not what we should do.

We live in a free country,

Where all will have a chance,

To work and go pursue their dream,

And join In freedom’s dance.

But if you don’t go work for it,

You don’t deserve your share,

And that’s the way I see it,

And my constant prayer,

Is that we’ll come together,

And find God as our hope,

And I believe unless we do,

We’ll be against the ropes.

So stand up for yourself and say,

Give to me your hand,

Not with just a hand-out,

But to help me take a stand,

For family and for freedom,

And to live responsibly,

To go out there and get it,

With the brave and with the free.

“Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.” (2 Thessalonians 3:11-12, NLT)

The Bible has much to say about the value of work. From the beginning, Adam and Eve were assigned the task of taking care of the garden before they fell into sin. As Paul raised up congregations of faith in the first century, there were some who were idle. He said if they refused to work they wouldn’t get to eat. That sounds contradictory to some, because we are called to help the “least of these” including the hungry. There seems to be a distinction between those who have a genuine need and those who don’t. Passages like this argue against the entitlement we see in our culture today. To think people are somehow entitled to be given special treatment because of centuries old injustice is ludicrous and unbiblical. It undermines the self-esteem one feels when a job is well done and rewarded, and promotes a something for nothing mentality that is destructive. God blesses unconditionally, but it’s even better when by working we give God something to bless.

Lord, bless our work, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Bill Owen, used by permission. Thanks, and God bless.