Entitled or Thankful?

Luke 15:11-13 (NKJV): 11 Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

A young man walked up to his father and said to him, “Old man, when are you going to die so that I can have my inheritance?” From a cultural perspective, this is exactly what happened in the Parable of The Prodigal Son. Jesus told the story of a man who had two sons. The younger of the two asked their father for his share of the estate. In that day, for a child to ask his father for his inheritance while the father was still alive was the same as wishing he were dead. It would be one thing if the young man were asking for his inheritance to give away or to help someone else. But the young man’s motive was totally selfish. The Bible says that he, “…wasted his substance with prodigal (riotous) living.”

While we recognize that the young man was self-consumed, it was his attitude of self-entitlement that motivated him to disrespect his father in such a manner. The young man didn’t get the money because of his ability, his wisdom, or his work; his father gave him the inheritance! But instead of being thankful that he’d been included as an heir, he felt entitled to his father’s estate! One writer commented, “The son did what sinners have done throughout history—he accepted the blessings of the father while at the same time, he turned his back to Him.”

Christians must always be thankful that God has made us, “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” And we must be careful that we never allow the “spirit of entitlement” to affect us! How can you tell that you’ve been infected? It is when you take God’s Blessings for granted to the point that you’re not as thankful as you once were. Don’t allow your greed for gain to cause you to be ungrateful! As we begin another day, pause to thank The Lord for all of the wonderful blessings that He’s already bestowed upon you.

Let’s Pray: “Father, thank You for all you’ve done for us. We pray that we’ll never allow the spirit of entitlement to infest us. If we’ve been affected, deliver us today we pray, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Daily Prayer:
“Oh, that You would bless me indeed,
and enlarge my territory,
that Your hand would be with me,
and that You would keep me from evil,
that I may not cause pain!”

The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10

Daily Confession:

Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conqueror and not the conquered



I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I shall live and not die to declare your works



I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body today

For by Your Stripes I'm healed



I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed

Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



I confess that there shall not be any lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus



Thank You that all things are working together for my good

And that You always cause me to triumph



This is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

In Jesus, Name, amen.


Challenge-of-the Day

Who Am I?

1. I am the son of Adam and Eve after Abel died.

2. We are the two brothers who covered our father’s nakedness.

3. I departed with Abram after he left his country.

4. I am the 1st son of Abram.

5. I am the 2nd wife of Abraham that gave birth to several children
after Sarah died.