The spiritually entitled

In my teen years I grew up in a wealthy part of town and saw many friends who lived very entitled lives.  More than ever, that way of thinking has become a liability for people who have never been made to hone a marketable skill that could earn them the salary they expect.  Similarly those who feel spiritually entitled are just asking for pain.

We see throughout the Old Testament numerous examples of national pride and individual arrogance tying directly to the Jew’s understanding of their election by God.  Even one of our biblical heroes, Joseph, endured much pain for his rash response to receiving the revelation that he himself was chosen by God, and not his brothers. 

Paul speaks in Ephesians 1 of our chosen-ness and our adoption as sons into God’s family.  I was struck by Paul’s positive and thankful tone that accompanies this teaching.  He sounds like someone who is truly amazed and humbled that God would choose him.  Paul’s attitude is certainly in contrast to the attitude I’ve observed in myself and other Christians when the topic of election comes up.