I can harbor resentment toward God during difficult times (Job 36:13 NIV), thinking “Why is God letting this stress, pressure, or disruption happen to me, when I wanted and deserved better? I thought he was here to help me. I thought he cared.”
When we have an indulgent view of God, we’re not only entitled, but we get mad and blame God for any stress, pressure, or delayed gratification we experience. Our motive is to use rather than love God.
We choose emotions over truth and scriptures
Once the younger son received his share, he decided to “journey to a far off land” (vs 13). His emotions led him to believe he’d be happier and better off on his own, apart from his father and brother. His emotional bingeing and reckless living soon left him empty-handed and alone. What felt good at the time led to no good for his life.
There are too many times in my pride I feel that I know better than God and I trust my own instincts and emotions rather than holding to the truth found in Scripture. When led by my emotions and impulses, I no longer believe that the source of my satisfaction, spiritual growth, and purpose is God alone.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”
Psalm 16:2 NIV
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5 NIV
We can’t discover significant growth or experience any spiritual fruition in our lives without being in a relationship with God.
Entitlement exchanges relationships and intimacy for instant gratification. We view relationships based on what they can give us and how they can serve our pursuits, rather than enjoying being together and helping each other become who God destined us to be.
In Luke 15:14-19, the younger son hit rock bottom. He was hungry and completely humbled. Yet rather than be resentful about his situation, he chose to return to his father. His view of himself changed from being entitled to being no longer worthy of sonship, hoping to simply be accepted as an employee working to earn his keep.
14 “With everything spent and nothing left, he grew hungry, for there was a severe famine in that land…17 “Humiliated, the son finally realized what he was doing and he thought, ‘There are many workers at my father’s house who have all the food they want with plenty to spare. They lack nothing. Why am I here dying of hunger, feeding these pigs and eating their slop?
18 I want to go back home to my father’s house, and I’ll say to him, “Father, I was wrong. I have sinned against you. 19 I’ll never be worthy to be called your son. Please, Father, just treat me like one of your employees.”’
Luke 15:14,17-19
We rebel and refuse to pray
25 “Now, the older son was out working in the field when his brother returned, and as he approached the house he heard the music of celebration and dancing. 26 So he called over one of the servants and asked, ‘What’s going on?’
27 “The servant replied, ‘It’s your younger brother. He’s returned home and your father is throwing a party to celebrate his homecoming.’ 28 “The older son became angry and refused to go in and celebrate. So his father came out and pleaded with him, ‘Come and enjoy the feast with us!’
Luke 15:25-28 TPT
Instead of celebrating his younger brother’s return, the older brother became angry and refused to go to his brother’s homecoming.
Why did he want nothing to do with his younger brother, the homecoming celebration, or his own father?
Why did he refuse to go to his father and have a conversation, let alone ask what the celebration was all about, but instead called one of the other servants?
Similar to this older son, there are times where I’ve refused to pray or want a conversation with God because I was blinded by my victim-mentality, thinking everyone – including God – owed me for all the “hard or diligent work” I’ve contributed.
The reality is when we are entitled we hold to the false belief that God and others should be initiating, serving and pleading with us — because we value ourselves above all other relationships and take togetherness with others for granted.
