You may have heard it said that we are living in the age of entitlement.  Young people today seem be believe they are entitled to whatever they want.  They are entitled to a comfortable life.  They are entitled to go where they want, do what they want.  They are entitled to do as little as possible and have things handed to them.  They are entitled to live in a home without participating in the family.  They are entitled to get things as soon as the whim strikes them without saving to earn it. 

“There is a very high sense of entitlement within modern society.  Older people feel entitled to certain benefits from the government.  Middle-aged people feel entitled to generous health and retirement benefits from their employers.  Younger adults feel entitled to immediately enjoy the same standard of living their parents took years to achieve.  And young people feel entitled to whatever material luxuries they desire.” (Jerry Bridges, “Transforming Grace: Living Confidently in God’s Unfailing Love”)

Is it possible that this sense of entitlement carries with it a belief that they (we) are entitled to salvation, that we somehow deserve it? 

Although we believe we are saved by grace alone through faith alone, and that it is totally based on the grace of God afforded to us through Jesus Christ, I believe that deep down, if most of us were honest, we would have to admit that at least a small part of us believes we deserve heaven, deserve salvation, that we are entitled to salvation.  . 
Perhaps this sense of entitlement is not exclusive to young people; perhaps it started first with us. 

If we truly understood grace, we would quickly lose our sense of entitlement as we would be overwhelmed with a deep sense of gratitude. 

Diane

Diane Hunt is part of the ministry team at America’s Keswick.  She is a regular writer for Victory Call and one of the authors of Crossing the Jordan Bible Study.  Diane has been married to her husband John over 27 years.  She has 2 adult children and 3 grandchildren and 3 adult step-children with 7 grandchildren making 10 in all.  She delights reading and teaching, but mostly laughing at the funny things her grandchildren say and do.