You never know what a babies first words will be. I'm not talking about Momma or Papa but the other classics. By the time a toddler realizes it's usefulness he quickly becomes fond of the word "mine". On average a child will say the word "mine" 4,649 times by the age of 4. Actually, I made that up, but you and I can both agree that children love that word!

From a young age we learn and practice entitlement. It's the idea that you deserve whatever you think is right. If you feel like a break it's ok to take one because you deserve it, according to Kit-kats. If you want something done your way, no problem, you can have it your way according to Burger King. Our society and our flesh promote the idea that each of us are entitled to whatever we feel is rightfully ours. But, when we decide what is right on our own things get messy real quick.

I have to pick on American Idol for a second. This cultural phenomenon only supports this concept of entitlement. Each contestant is asked why they think they should be the next "Idol". Have you noticed what the majority of them say? They say, "Because I deserve it". They tell about how hard they worked and what they gave up. They cry over the adversity they've gone through or the pain people have cause them, and they equate that to deserving this "Idol" status.

I have to bring us back to the reality that by God's truth, because you and I aren't perfect, we actually deserve judgment. We didn't make this world and all the things in it. We don't even orchestrate the good things of this world. James 1:17 reminds us that everything good comes from God. All that is good, all that is love, all that is grace is because God chose to give us that. Ephesians 2 helps us to understand that the greatest love of God doesn't come because we deserved it, but because God gives it.

This concept of entitlement is what keeps us from being truly thankful and it keeps us from truly following Christ. When Christ says in Luke 14:33, "If anyone of you does not give up everything he cannot be my disciple", he isn't asking us to give up what is rightfully ours. He is asking us to give up what is actually his. If we understand that everything we have and everything we are is because of the grace and love of God we aren't giving up what is ours, we are giving back what is God's.

If you watched the Grammy awards, undoubtedly you heard some rapper thank God for his award. Have you ever noticed they don't interview the losing musicians, or in sports they don't interview the losing team? It would mean more to me if instead of hearing the winner of an award or the winner of the championship game thank God, that the loser would speak into the mic and thank God. As Job says, "Shall I only accept good from God and not hardship". We won't began to understand true thankfulness if we only view it through accomplishment, happiness, or personal gain. It's when we approach even the pain, loss, suffering, and poverty with thankfulness that we have a correct perspective on this life.

Jesus deserves our best, God deserves our everything. Don't mix it up and believe you deserve the best from Jesus and everything from God. A true follower of Christ knows that giving up everything to follow Him is much easier when they realize they don't really have anything to give up in the first place.

Let go, be thankful, and follow Christ because of what He has done for you even though you didn't deserve it.

- Josh