Can the “Self Entitlement Generation” really serve?
I have been studying Philippians 1 for about 3 hours now, and I just can’t seem to get past the first verse. Somehow Paul’s description of Timothy and himself as servants has really gripped my heart. The word for servant that Paul uses is doulos. Thayer Defines the word as:
1) a slave, bondman, man of servile condition
1a) a slave
1b) metaphorically, one who gives himself up to another’s will (emphasis added) those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men
1c) devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests (emphasis added)
2) a servant, attendant
“One who gives himself up to another’s will” somehow doesn’t sound like the generation that I am a part of. In fact, I would argue that it is completely against our nature and the general direction of Generation Y. Take cars for example. “Young Professionals” in their 20s have a tendency to drive cars as nice, or nicer than those that their parents drive. In an article on MSNBC.com puts it this way:
While fresh-out-of-school professionals, burdened with student loans and first-job salaries, might be expected to buy entry-level cars like Honda Civics or Toyota Corollas, instead many are choosing rides that fit the image they have of themselves as wealthy and successful, even though they haven’t yet achieved that status.
Notice, they buy a car to suit a status that they have yet to achieve, does that seem totally screwed up to anyone else? But, this is what I see every time I’m on the road.
Ultimately we are a generation with a frightening sense of entitlement and frankly we don’t deserve most of what we have. So my question is, can this generation, as self absorbed as we tend to be, really become a servant that “gives himself up to another’s will”, that is the will of Christ?
This might be the single, most important, spiritual question posed to this generation. I have answered this in my heart, for my life, and for my family. How have you answered?
For a few more thoughts about the Entitlement Generation, check this out.
