“Too Much and Too Easy for Too Long”

“Too Much and Too Easy for Too Long”

March 22, 2017

I hear a lot of comments about young people in America, and much of the time, it is not complimentary. “Entitlement” is the buzzword used to describe them. Whatever fancy definition we give this word, I think it means “I deserve this” or “I have a right to this.” Carried a step further, it becomes an attitude of: “You owe me this.”

Humans were created to work. Even in the perfect environment of the Garden of Eden, Adam had responsibility. Creator God designed humans to find fulfillment and enjoyment in working. Those first humans were not bored with life. They had it all and apparently enjoyed it all.

But their world was broken when the counterfeit god, Satan, convinced them to trust him more than their Creator. We could say that he enticed them into believing that they did not have it all – that God was holding back some of the privileges they deserved. And they fell for the lie.

It seems obvious that the entitlement attitude started in that garden; however, history reminds us that not all cultures focused on it as much as our current one. Even in Early America, when most people lived in an agricultural environment, there was a contentment that came with having sufficient provisions and safety. They had little need or time for entertainment.

Having more than we need, and giving little effort to obtaining it for too long a time, results in an attitude of: “I deserve this.” This situation did not start with the current generation. It has been growing for a long time. Kids learn from the generation ahead of them. God gave children parents to teach kids how to live. So the current wearisome attitude of entitlement is most likely the result of the parents having too much for too long with a lot less effort than in previous generations.

I believe the same situation prevails with Biblical Truth. I have had so much for so long that I can easily forget that much of the world still waits for its first copy of the New Testament. That reality convicts me.

Pastor Bill Ehmann

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RECENT POSTS

“Does Jesus Love Everybody?”

By wvbaptist | April 27, 2016 | 0 Comments

April 27, 2016 It is a challenge to deal honestly with issues without attacking the person. As parents, we try to separate the offense from the child so that we deal with a bad action or attitude but do not […]

“Fear or Respect?”

By wvbaptist | April 22, 2016 | 0 Comments

April 20, 2016 Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The word used here for “fear” can include respect as well as to be appropriately afraid. Should we ever […]

“Grateful for Tax Day”

By wvbaptist | April 15, 2016 | 0 Comments

April 15, 2016 April 15 is traditionally Tax Day in America, although I am aware that the IRS gave us some extra time this year because of a holiday in Washington, D.C. And while I know that this is a […]

“Majestic Creator”

By wvbaptist | April 7, 2016 | 0 Comments

April 6, 2016 The newspaper headline caught my attention: “Hubble telescope spies most distant galaxy.” The claim is to have spotted “the most distant galaxy ever observed.” And then this statement: “The light that left this galaxy that we’re observing […]

“The Week After Easter”

By wvbaptist | March 30, 2016 | 0 Comments

March 30, 2016 For many people, Easter Sunday is about dinner, eggs, bunnies, flowers and maybe the annual visit to a local church. And then it is over. Dinner is a memory – maybe an uncomfortable one. The colorful eggs […]

Scroll to Top