Job 1:20-21 Then Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head in mourning for the children, and he fell to the ground and worshiped God. He said, “Naked without possessions I came into this world from my mother’s womb, And naked I will return there……”

We’ve all heard the story of Job at one time or another in our life. In Job 1 an account is given of how he lost everything, including his ten children. Now I’m not here to discuss Job’s life throughout the book or how God blessed him by the end of it. I want you to see what Job says when he lost it all. To paraphrase the above passage, Job brought nothing in this world and he’s taking nothing out when he leaves it. By the end of the book of Job, he realizes it all belongs to God anyway.

Let’s fast forward in time to today’s society. What would be the reaction of someone, especially a Christian, who faced the same circumstances Job did in today’s society? Many would give up on God and say that it’s not fair what’s happening to them. Some may feel that someone else should give them back what they lost because they feel like they deserve to have the same lifestyle they had before it was stripped away. Maybe you’re one of the fortunate ones who’ve never had a “Job” experience, life has been good to you. That’s great. But, there has been an attitude that has arisen in recent years that says, “it doesn’t matter who I am or what I do. I’m entitled.”

The word entitled means “believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment:”. Here’s a couple of questions to ask yourself. Do you feel like you deserve an eduction? Do you feel like you deserve a high paying job with no experience? Do you feel like your parents should give you a car and a roof over your head when you are old enough to obtain these things for yourself? On the Spiritual side, do you think you deserve to be saved? Do you think you should be allowed to spend eternity in Heaven, even though you never accepted Jesus as your Lord an Savior? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you have fallen victim to the entitlement mentality.

You see, Job made it clear, you came in this world with nothing and you will leave it the same way. I’m here to tell you that you are entitled to nothing unless God gives it to you. Instead of having the attitude that you deserve what’s in front of you, start having the attitude that you are grateful for what is in front of you. Houses, cars, and jobs are great, but they are subject to change at a moment’s notice. You don’t even deserve salvation, but Jesus gave His life freely on the cross so you could have life eternal.

We’re only on this earth a very short time in comparison to eternity. So, stop viewing everything around you with an entitlement mentality with your hand out to take what you don’t deserve. Instead, lift your hand up to God and thank Him for every opportunity that comes your way, whether good or bad. If you’ll do these things, you’ll be blessed in the end, just as Job was.