You Deserve It!
I see that message all over the television and internet. Everyone is telling a willing audience that they deserve “the good life,” or a new car, a vacation and McDonalds says “you deserve a break today.” I understand those are advertisements designed to stroke our ego and speak to our self-centered mind-set, but it has gone way beyond that that.
That attitude was introduced into counseling, motivational speeches and interpersonal relations. They say you deserve more money, a better life, career…just fill in the blank, because you deserve it. They are trying to encourage us to think better of ourselves, take some action, or try harder to reach a better end. It might help get us going, but will it change the outcome? Remember those messages go out to a wide variety of people, in different situations. Do they all really “deserve it?” That might explain why kids feel the world owes them something.
Whatever happened to studying harder in school, so you can get a better job and working harder to earn the promotion you are after? Maybe you start at the bottom of the company, being faithful and reliable; going the extra mile, then management will reward your efforts because you are valuable to them. You might start your own business with the knowledge and experience you’ve gained? There is no guarantee, but if you succeed, then you would truly deserve the fruits of your labor.
When people are complaining about their spouse, it won’t be long before some well-meaning friend says “you don’t deserve to be treated like that” or “you deserve better than that.” That might lead a person to think they married the wrong one and should look for a better deal. What about commitment, dedication, loyalty and unselfish love…through richer and poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part?
So what do we deserve? JESUS told us to “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Mat 5:48 KJV). The law was given to us show us how to live perfect in the eyes of GOD and if we fail to follow it, we have to pay for our failure. But we can’t possibly live up to GOD’s standards! You are right! You were born into sin and have a sin nature. You deserve to die! What am I to do, is there no hope?
That’s where grace (unmerited favor) comes in. GOD extended us favor that we don’t deserve and made a way for us to be saved! He deserves all the honor and glory be given to Him, but “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). JESUS said “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Mat 28:18 KJV) but He “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil 2:8 KJV) to save our undeserving soul. But He didn’t deserve that! You are right and GOD “hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name” (Phil 2:9 KJV), so He deserves all our praise and all the glory for His great love towards us! Receive JESUS CHRIST as your LORD and SAVIOR, because He deserves it!
Wayne Lance