This Week Kay Charlotte Brings an Encouragement to Fight Entitlement
Do Not Disturb by Visuals via Unsplash
Not long ago, I was walking down the hallway of a fancy hotel. I was feeling pretty good about myself and how life was treating me.
As I passed each door, I noticed the signs hanging from some of the doorknobs. Some displayed “Maid Service Please.” Other door signs said, “Do Not Disturb.”
Later in the day, God spoke to me. He said, “On a regular basis, you hang the 'Maid Service' sign on the door of your heart, when you want me to clean up your mess. This is an entitlement because you have no intention of cleaning up yourself. You expect my service immediately and without question.” I was shocked. I started to argue. But before I could get defensive, I heard Him say, “You just as quickly flip the sign over to “Do Not Disturb”, as if you don’t want me to bother you. It makes me very sad when you do this to me.”
I couldn’t speak. His words penetrated my heart and challenged me to take a good long look at my attitude towards God and the entitlements I walked in.
After I deeply repented, I started to evaluate how I interacted with others in regards to this sign. Did I really, expect others to “Do Not Disturb” me? Did I really want others to pick up after my messes? Am I really entitled? The answer sadly was a resounding, yes!
My heart still feels the weight of that sin, even as I’m reminded of that day, from time to time. I have made a conscious effort to not swivel this sign towards God and others who attempt to connect with me. Who do I think I am? Where did such arrogance and pride waltz into my heart? The answer is, daily, I make a choice to either walk in pride or in humility. I either choose to serve others or be served. I’m still a work in progress and thankfully, God isn’t finished with me yet, and thankfully, my family hasn’t disowned me. But I’m regularly aware that I have a doorknob on my heart waiting for a sign to hang on it. I get to choose to not hang entitlement, on the doorknob of my heart. Today, I’m going to hang a sign that says, “Welcome, how can I serve you?”