Romans 14:17 NASB
…for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Good theology is life-giving. Poor theology is life-draining. Good theology is built upon the character of God. Poor theology is grounded in projected fantasy. Good theology is fundamentally integrated within the good news of Jesus Christ. Poor theology is centered around human passions.
There are many new believers whose knowledge of God is flawed around the entitlement mindset. They generally have been exposed to a message that God’s purpose is built around you the individual. That your salvation is an agreement where God’s purpose is to exchange his blessing for your loyalty. That His sole mission is for your success and happiness. That you are the center of the universe and He will make all your dreams and desires become reality.
If this is you, you may want to reread your Bible.
Take Jonah as an example. God called him with the mission to preach to the people of Nineveh, his enemies. Jonah instead chose to flee from God. God though in his mercy worked out circumstances for Jonah to change his mind. He eventually made it to Nineveh, preached, and the people repented. You would think that Jonah would have been delighted with the results. Instead he pouted. God’s actions didn’t align with his beliefs. He thought that God should have destroyed these people. But God had other plans.
Entitlement theology is centered around the self. Instead of making our story and goals the main purpose of life, we need to surrender to our Lord’s purpose. When we do, the byproduct is to experience the richness of God’s character. We still have our dreams and goals but have submitted these under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Which means, if we are allowed to pursue and achieve them we are grateful and appreciative. However, it also means if we are not allowed to achieve them, we are also grateful and appreciative.
Our life is hidden in Jesus Christ. His story is the main one. Our story is a very, very, very small byline within His storyline. Apart from Him, we would be on death row. He has introduced us to His Father who has adopted us into the divine family. Not because we are entitled, but because Jesus Christ is entitled to everything. He is the reason we live, breathe, and have hope today and tomorrow. And yes, we are included.
Rooting For You in Christ!
Dr. Mike
Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:
* Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
* Great Business Emulates a Good God
* Be Radical…Follow Christ!
* Simply The Messenger
* Unequally Married
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