From Entitlement to Gratitude: A Heart Transformation

 

Summary

In today's sermon, we explored the pervasive and destructive nature of entitlement and the transformative power of gratitude. Entitlement, much like the biblical metaphor of leprosy, begins subtly but can grow to consume every aspect of our lives, leaving us unthankful and dissatisfied. We delved into the story of a church member who felt entitled to have her wedding officiated by her pastor on his anniversary, revealing the ugliness of entitlement when it goes unchecked. This anecdote served as a stark reminder that our obligations to one another are not transactional but relational, grounded in love and service rather than a sense of debt.

We examined the story of the ten lepers healed by Jesus, focusing on the one who returned to express gratitude. This account from Luke's Gospel illustrates the importance of thankfulness, even when society may deem us unworthy. The Samaritan leper, an outcast among outcasts, demonstrated that gratitude is not contingent on our status but is a condition of the heart. His return to Jesus signified an internal healing that surpassed the physical, a salvation that the other nine missed despite their cleansed bodies.

Gratitude, as we learned, is not merely a spiritual practice but also beneficial to our physical and mental health. Scientific research confirms that gratitude enhances our well-being, lowers stress levels, and improves our relationships. This intersection of faith and science underscores the wisdom of God's design for our lives.

We also confronted the reality that we often rush past the Giver in pursuit of the gift, as illustrated by the story of a child more eager for candy than appreciating the presence of her father. This tendency to overlook the constants in our lives, such as the daily rising sun, can lead to a lack of appreciation for God's consistent blessings.

Finally, we were challenged to examine what we believe we deserve, as this belief is the litmus test for whether we live with a heart of gratitude or entitlement. Our sense of deserving can either be a barrier to recognizing God's grace or a bridge to a deeper appreciation of His generosity.

Key Takeaways:

- Entitlement is a spiritual cancer that consumes our ability to be grateful, leading us to focus on what we believe we are owed rather than what we have been given. To combat this, we must actively cultivate a heart of gratitude, recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God. [45:55]

- The story of the ten lepers healed by Jesus teaches us that gratitude should not be an afterthought but a primary response to God's grace. The one leper who returned to thank Jesus exemplifies a heart transformed by gratitude, which leads to true healing and salvation. [42:04]

- Gratitude has tangible benefits for our mental and physical health, aligning with biblical teachings that encourage us to give thanks in all circumstances. By practicing gratitude, we can improve our quality of life and reflect the peace of Christ to those around us. [09:50]

- Our relationship with God can be hindered by a focus on His gifts rather than the Giver Himself. We must remember to cherish God's presence and the constant blessings He bestows upon us, rather than rushing to the next desire or need. [18:07]

- The question of what we think we deserve reveals the state of our heart. By relinquishing our sense of entitlement and embracing a posture of humility and thankfulness, we open ourselves to the fullness of joy and contentment that God intends for us. [20:12]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 17:11-19 - The story of the ten lepers healed by Jesus, focusing on the one who returned to express gratitude.
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

#### Observation Questions
1. In the story of the ten lepers, what was the reaction of the one leper who returned to Jesus after being healed? ([39:18])
2. How does the sermon describe the nature of entitlement, and what metaphor is used to illustrate its effects? ([20:12])
3. According to the sermon, what are some of the physical and mental health benefits of practicing gratitude? ([09:50])
4. What example did the pastor give to illustrate how we often rush past the Giver in pursuit of the gift? ([18:07])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think only one of the ten lepers returned to thank Jesus, and what does this say about the nature of gratitude? ([39:18])
2. How does the metaphor of leprosy help us understand the destructive nature of entitlement in our spiritual lives? ([20:12])
3. The sermon mentioned that gratitude can improve our relationships. How might expressing gratitude change the dynamics in your personal relationships? ([10:04])
4. Reflecting on the pastor's story about the child and the candy, how can we ensure that we appreciate God's presence more than His gifts? ([18:07])

#### Application Questions
1. Think about a time when you felt entitled to something. How did that sense of entitlement affect your gratitude and overall happiness? What steps can you take to shift from entitlement to gratitude? ([20:12])
2. The sermon highlighted the importance of giving thanks in all circumstances. What are some daily practices you can adopt to cultivate a habit of gratitude, even in difficult times? ([12:00])
3. How can you make sure that your focus remains on God, the Giver, rather than just His gifts? Are there specific blessings in your life that you often take for granted? ([18:07])
4. The pastor mentioned that our sense of what we deserve can reveal the state of our heart. What do you believe you deserve, and how does this belief impact your relationship with God and others? ([20:47])
5. Scientific research supports the benefits of gratitude mentioned in the sermon. How can you incorporate gratitude into your daily routine to improve your mental and physical health? ([09:50])
6. Reflect on the story of the ten lepers. How can you ensure that your gratitude to God is not just an afterthought but a primary response to His grace? ([39:18])
7. Identify one person in your life who you feel has not appreciated your efforts. How can you approach this situation with a heart of gratitude rather than entitlement? ([03:25])

Devotional

Day 1: Rejecting Spiritual Entitlement
Entitlement can subtly infiltrate our spiritual lives, convincing us that we are owed certain blessings or outcomes. This mindset can lead to a lack of appreciation for the gifts we receive and a focus on what we perceive as deficits. Entitlement can be likened to a spiritual leprosy, spreading discontent and ingratitude throughout our hearts. It is crucial to recognize that everything we have is a gift from God, and we are not inherently deserving of any of it. By acknowledging this, we can begin to combat the entitlement that threatens to consume our ability to be grateful and instead actively cultivate a heart of gratitude. [45:55]

"But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just." (Luke 14:13-14 ESV)

Reflection: How can you demonstrate gratitude today in a situation where you might typically feel entitled?

Day 2: Gratitude as a Primary Response
The story of the ten lepers in the Gospel of Luke teaches us that gratitude should be our first response to God's grace. While nine lepers went on their way after being healed, only one returned to express thanks. This act of gratitude is not just good manners; it is a reflection of a heart transformed by God's mercy. True healing and salvation are found in this transformation, which leads to a deeper appreciation of God's generosity and a life marked by thankfulness. [42:04]

"One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan." (Luke 17:15-16 ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific way you can show gratitude for God's grace in your life today?

Day 3: The Health Benefits of Gratitude
Gratitude is not only a spiritual practice but also has significant benefits for our mental and physical health. Scientific research supports the biblical teaching to give thanks in all circumstances, showing that gratitude can enhance well-being, lower stress levels, and improve relationships. By practicing gratitude, we can improve our quality of life and reflect the peace of Christ to those around us, aligning with God's design for our lives. [09:50]

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6 ESV)

Reflection: Can you identify one area of your life where practicing gratitude could improve your well-being?

Day 4: Cherishing the Giver Over the Gifts
Our relationship with God can be hindered when we focus more on His gifts than on the Giver Himself. It is easy to rush past God in pursuit of what He can provide, much like a child eager for candy rather than appreciating the presence of their father. We must remember to cherish God's presence and the constant blessings He bestows upon us, such as the daily rising sun, which can lead to a deeper appreciation and a more profound sense of contentment. [18:07]

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17 ESV)

Reflection: What is one constant blessing in your life that you have overlooked, and how can you express appreciation for it today?

Day 5: The Litmus Test of Deserving
Our belief in what we deserve acts as a litmus test for whether we live with a heart of gratitude or entitlement. When we relinquish our sense of entitlement and embrace humility and thankfulness, we open ourselves to the fullness of joy and contentment that God intends for us. This shift in perspective allows us to see God's grace in every aspect of our lives and to live in a state of constant gratitude for His generosity. [20:12]

"For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7 ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on something you once felt you deserved. How can you transform that sense of entitlement into an opportunity for gratitude?

Quotes

"Entitlement kills gratitude. It's between hope and entitlement. Entitlement is I deserve it. What do you think you deserve? That's an important question because your answer to that is going to let you know. Do you have a heart of gratitude or a heart of entitlement?" [20:12] (Download | )

"God does not inhabit the complaints of his people. But he inhabits the Thanksgiving of his people. Start showing gratitude. Start giving thanks, because that's where it starts. That's what ushers us into his presence." [34:35] (Download | )

"And what hurt me is how quickly she was willing to rush past the gifter to get to the gift. We have a tendency to take for granted those things that are constant." [18:07] (Download | )

"Gratitude improves mental health. Grateful individuals have lower levels of depression and anxiety and have an increased feeling of happiness and life satisfaction." [09:50] (Download | )

"But one of them, by the way, it's the Samaritan. The leper that's a Samaritan, which the Jewish people, the Samaritans are like the lowest of the low. And he goes back to Jesus... They were healed, but they weren't saved. But it was because this one comes back because of his gratitude, because of his thankfulness." [42:04] (Download | )

"But the most healthy thing that you could do for yourself right now is to check yourself and say, hey, is there any part of me that is holding on to entitlement?" [27:57] (Download | )

"See what happens, the spirit of entitlement, it comes in and it is a cancer. It eats everything away until it just takes up every inch." [25:51] (Download | )

"So often, so often, when we need something from God, our voice will be loud. But when it comes time to thank him, no. We need to give, our praise should be louder than our needs." [42:04] (Download | )

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Transcript
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