In our country the consumer is king. Or queen. Businesses fall over each other trying to give consumers what they want, or the herd will move to their competitors. Is that bad or good? Well, it’s good in that it pushes businesses to provide excellence in service and products. It can be bad, though, in fostering a me-first mentality in their customers. People today love to hear advertising messages like this: “You deserve it.” “Pamper yourself.” “You have a right to . . .” “You deserve some ‘me’ time.” “Give yourself a break.”  

Do you suppose that “entitlement” mentality carries over into people’s relationship with God? Do you think that God owes you things? Like a steady income stream or a beautiful home or solutions to all your problems or a place in heaven? You know, if we got what we deserved from God, we would all be heading for hell. We are all prodigal sons and daughters, self-centered and careless.

The only thing we deserve from God is condemnation. The appropriate posture before him is penitence on our knees, just like the prodigal son in Jesus’ parable: “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son’” (Luke 15:21). Our great hope is in God’s grace—that he chooses to love and forgive us for Jesus’ sake. 

Enjoy his gift—undeserved, unmerited, unconditional.