Entitled to Nothing

I had a dream, and in part of it the “Gardener” put a post-it note up that had profound truths on it.  When I woke up I couldn’t remember many of them but I was told when I was ready He would remind me of the rest.  I was to write down what I remembered.  He was called the Gardener and looked quite frankly like an ordinary little old man.  

He was letting people know where they go wrong in what they believe. The first truth that people needed to know, “You are entitled to nothing. Anything you have is a gift from Me.”   

I woke up thinking about that and, realized that I was not raised entitled by my family as we did not have a lot of money growing up.  I have used the term entitled about some millennials I know.  The Gardener was not talking just about millennials but every living human being.   

I thought, Well what would I feel entitled about having? Here is one basic – gravity. Think about what life would be without gravity, nothing would stay in place, my coffee wouldn’t stay in my cup, I couldn’t type at my laptop, I’d be trying to hold it in place.  I think things would be a mess, stuff floating everywhere.  It might be fun to experiment with it like in a carnival ride but practically, it would be a nightmare.  

I do sort of feel entitled to gravity and yet the Lord (Gardener) said I was entitled to nothing.  Okay let’s just say for the sake of argument He would throw in gravity.

What about the earth?  I sort of feel entitled to have a place to put my feet especially now that I have gravity.  And He says I am entitled to nothing.  No earth.  No Sue.  He gives it as a gift.  Thank you, Lord, for the earth and gravity.  Well now, with the gift of the Earth and gravity, it gives me a better start.

What about oxygen?  Oh yeah, that is vital too.  Oxygen, earth and gravity.  And to keep His message in perspective I am entitled to NONE of these.  I used to think it was life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness but somewhere through the course of life I seemed to have forgotten that I am entitled to nothing.  Those are my unalienable rights aren’t they?  I guess not in God’s economy.  They are gifts from God and I see them as my rights, my “entitled rights!”

I recently saw a movie that asked the question, “Why do poor people seem to be happier than rich people?”  And I’m just tossing out the possibility that it is because they don’t feel entitled to have more.  

Jesus was the servant to all.  He said that what you do for the least of these you do for Him.  Is it possible that Jesus was grateful for everything and felt entitled to nothing?  We have been given the title of children of God, like His Son.  What would happen if we consciously went through our day not feeling entitled to anything.  I’m trying to sort this out as I write as this is new to me, too.

For example, if we get flipped off in traffic, we yield the right of way with a smile (sincere one) and don’t offer up a “hope you get yours” prayer.  

Or, you are running late and you go to the grocery store to have the lady with six children go ahead of you as she pays with food stamps and holds up the line “forever.”  Maybe we wouldn’t mumble to ourselves how she needs to be given birth control, needs to get a job, has too much time on her hands, etc. Maybe we aren’t entitled to speedy checkout.  We certainly aren’t entitled to be rude and think we are better than she is. And how about this: we are not entitled to think our time is more valuable than hers.

Entitled – Believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.

Believing – Accepting something as true, feel sure of the truth of it.

Inherently – In a permanent, essential, or characteristic way.

Deserving – Worthy of being treated in a particular way, typically of being given assistance

Privileges – A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people.

Special – Better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual.

Treatment – Manner in which someone behaves toward or deals with someone or something.

Entitled (Amplified)  Truly believing oneself to be inherently and permanently deserving and worthy of privileges and advantages or special, better, greater treatment.

The Gardener wrote on His note – “You are entitled to nothing.  Anything you have is a gift from Me.”  

After I woke up from the dream I thought, what a sobering thought.  And every time I revisit it I get pulled in a little further.  I like the phrase “attitude of gratitude.”  In the month of November a common practice is to come up with a new item every day that you are grateful for up until Thanksgiving.  I’ve been thankful for running water and electricity but I really am made aware when there is a power outage.  Thanksgiving gets squashed and somewhat forgotten in between the hype for Halloween and Christmas, could it be because our vision is blocked by our entitlement?

My personal prayer is this, “Father, I don’t want to take You for granted and not see the gifts You have given me.   Thank You for this dream, of You as the Gardner.  Teach me gratitude and humility to understand I am nothing without You.  My lungs have oxygen, my feet have the earth, and You hold me in place with gravity.  I am entitled to nothing and yet I have everything.  Thank you, Abba.”  Amen