Entitled?

I am not sure why but the need to write is very prominent when I am flying.  The need is not present when traveling to somewhere but when returning home.  This last week I traveled to Nebraska and while boarding the plane to return home I had the opportunity to observe the boarding process.  During this particular flight the need to board in a timely manner was stated due to a weather system coming in.  The timeliness of the boarding process meant we were either leaving on time or going to be delayed till the storm passed.

Most people were conscientious of placing things where they were needed and finding their seat quickly.  However, there were those who felt no need to hurry the process up.  They are entitled to their time and space despite the desire to take off on time.  There was one lady’s actions that particularly stuck out.  All people were seated, all overhead bins closed and flight attendants were closing the doors to the aircraft.  This lady decided that she should put something up in the overhead compartment and sit down without closing it.  Due to her “need” and what appeared to be a lack of a helping attitude, the flight attendant then had to make her way back down the aisle to close the overhead compartment. 

Where, as a society, have we gone wrong?  Why is it “not my job” to do something so I am not going to do it or someone else will take care of it?  Why are we entitled to behave in such a manner?  We are all guilty, at times, of being entitled; or deciding we don’t have to do something because someone else will do it.  However, this philosophy does not match the philosophy Christ has or had while He was on earth.  Christ, our Savior – the King, served so many people and didn’t say it wasn’t His job because He was the King.  He didn’t have to calm the storm, or heal so many people, or feed people.  He was the King! 

If you look through scripture, an entitled King, is not the kind of King we have.  That is not the example He left for us.  Romans 15:2-3 notes, “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.  For Christ did not please Himself.”  Christ did not do things to please Himself, but took care of others.  1 Corinthians 10:24 states “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of His neighbor”.  And multiple places in the bible it talks about loving your neighbor as yourself.

Christ did not live an entitled life.  He lived a life of service.  He gave up His life so we could have life.  1 Corinthians 6:19b-20 notes, “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.  So glorify God in your body.”  Do your actions glorify God?  Do your actions leave a message with others that you are living a life of service as Christ did or do your actions say it is all about me?

As you go about your daily life, take time to think about what your actions “say” to other people.  Let your actions “speak” and share the magnificent love we have from Christ.

Cheryl