Deserve.
Deserve is used by advertisers to create discontentment.
"Call right now to get the tax relief you deserve."
"We can help you buy the house you deserve."
"Join now to sculpt the body you deserve."
Deserve is used within families to demand fairness.
"I had to give the kids a bath last night, so I deserve to watch TV tonight."
"She went out on Friday, so I deserve to go out on Saturday."
"This relationship isn't working, and I deserve to be happy."
Deserve is used with our finances to avoid perseverance.
"She got a job right after college. I deserve one too."
"The next door neighbors have a new car, so I deserve one too."
"I have worked here for five years, so I deserve a promotion."
Webster's defines the word deserve this way: "to merit, be qualified for, or have a claim to because of actions, qualities, or situation." But I think it can be broken down far more simply than that.
Deserve means to "de-serve."
As in, un-serve. As in, the opposite of serve. As in, a selfishly inward focus rather than a sacrificially outward one. When we feel like we deserve something, we are likely de-serving someone else at the same time.
Entitlement is a human problem, not a Godly one. If God were in the business of fairness, Jesus never would have gone to the cross. God never would have shown Noah the rainbow. Hebrews 4:16 wouldn't tell us to "approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace...."
Jesus came to earth to be a servant. To give love, to show mercy, and to offer grace to a world that didn't deserve it. He deserved more. He deserved better. But he served instead.
Christ already knew what I am just now learning...that every choice we make says one of two things about us. It either says "I serve," or it says "I deserve."
Thank You, as I was about to get something I thought I needed with funds it took too long to save I read this. Thankful is not one of the words in the reactions list.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tim...I do not deserve what God has so graciously and abundantly given me through His son Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, but I serve in gratitude for all that I have and all that He is making me!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post! I don't know that I will ever say or hear this word again without thinking about this post. ;-) really the only thing we deserve is death. That's why words cannot express how I feel about what Jesus did for me...just so I don't get what I do deserve. He deserves unendless praise for what he did for us all. You are right. He deserves, we do not.
ReplyDeleteTracieK
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post and the for the lesson!
Great reminder Tim - thanks for putting the word "deserve" into proper perspective!
ReplyDeleteSo...is anything we do for ourselves selfish? I'm a stay at home mother of two, and I occassionally like to splurge on myself get my hair done, buy a new CD, or stop by Starbucks between stops while grocery shopping. Are those things selfish? Or have we manipulated selfish wants even further to make ourselves believe that our wants ARE needs? Ie, I NEED to get out of the house, I NEED new clothes, etc. ??
ReplyDeleteNicole...
ReplyDeleteYes. But selfishness isn't a bad thing when it allows you to better serve others in the future. Jesus took time to himself on several occasions because he needed to recharge. Doing so allowed him to fulfill God's calling on his life.
As a mom, the same principle applies. You need to be selfish from time to time in order to fulfill God's calling on your life as a wife and a mother. To best serve your kids and your husband, a little time to yourself is definitely "deserved." :-)
Great perspective, Tim.
ReplyDeleteThen. Self-ish in itself is actually de-serving others. And there are times to de-serve others so that one re-freshes oneself. I enjoy your blogs, Tim. You are a blessing to all of us!
ReplyDeleteGreat perspective Tim. May use this in a message someday with your permission.
ReplyDeleteAs usual Tim you come through with something everyone needs to hear. I don't deserve anything. No one does. Thank you for reminding us all of what we don't deserve and to serve instead.
ReplyDeleteTom...as always, you are free to use what you find here! So glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteTim,
ReplyDeleteThanks a bunch. For years I've winced every time I heard "deserve" in an ad. "You deserve a break today." We deserve a lake today, the lake of fire. "There is no one righteous, not even one" (Rom 3:10, Psalm 14:3) Thank God He gave us Christ, the way off that hook.
Had to leave the car and go into work while this was being read on air today....so glad I get to come here and read it. This is Awesome...I have said it before...but you said it WAY better! Great word!
ReplyDeleteWe were talking about this in our Mens' Group just this week - the issue of entitlement. I have a 6-week-old daughter at home. What can I do, as her Dad, to ensure she doesn't feel entitled to things as we raise her? Great post Tim!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tim!
ReplyDeleteFantastic!
ReplyDeleteIf you will do some actual research, you will find that the ACTUAL most harmful word in the English language is the word "no"...well, from a physiological stand point. Seriously, look it up.
ReplyDeleteI personally think it's good to have standards as far as what you DESERVE. Also, I think your break down of the word "deserve" is probably not etymologically correct. Well, actually, I know it isn't. It's just a bunch of garbage you dreamed up.
ACTUAL Origin:
"1250–1300; Middle English deserven < Anglo-French, Old French deservir, Latin dēservīre to devote oneself to the service of, equivalent to dē- de- + servīre to serve"
So, actually, it means the complete opposite of what you say it means.