Luke 15:28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
In the Semitic(Middle Eastern) culture the eldest son has a very special position, privileges and power. The firstborn male received a double portion of the family inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:17), special paternal blessing and family leadership. They also get a special place of honour during family meals. In the parable of the prodigal son in (Luke 15:11-32), Jesus spoke about a compassionate father who divided his property between his two sons. The second son, took his share, swindled his wealth in wayward living and returned back repentant. The father celebrated the return of the prodigal son with a lavish party but the eldest who had received the double portion of the inheritance was offended at the father’s reception of the rebellious younger brother. The spiritual disease of the elder brother was “Entitlement Syndrome”.
We come across many who suffer from this entitlement syndrome. They believe that they are dutiful, dedicated and devoted so God is obliged to bless them and the disobedient should be punished. They are under the illusion that they have ticked all the boxes and hence, God is indebted to them. At some point in time, most of us would have suffered from this syndrome. We walk in righteousness and holiness not to benefit God but for our own redemption. God is no man’s debtor. Favour of God is on the obedient but it is wrong to place God under an obligation to us.
Prescription pills to overcome the ‘entitlement syndrome’:
- Self-Pity: The Father divided his property between them (vs 11b). This means the eldest had already inherited the double portion of the inheritance. The wealthy elder brother’s eyes were itchy at the acceptance, forgiveness and the party bestowed on the prodigal. Entitlement syndrome will not tolerate the blessing of another and will fail to celebrate the victory of others. Self-pity will throw us out of the presence of God. The prescription to overcome self-pity is “gratitude”. The pill is ‘gratitude’ and the tonic is ‘praise’.
- Self-Righteousness: The elder brother was gloating about his sincerity and his brother’s slothful, sinful life. ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders (vs 29). The Bible says Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth (Proverbs 27:2b). If we hear the wallowing of one’s own praise, beware of the entitlement syndrome. The prescription to overcome self-righteousness is to swallow the pill of humility every day. The pill is ‘modesty’ and the tonic is ‘meekness’.
- Self-Absorbed: Entitlement syndrome will criticize others and will incarcerate us in the coffin of selfishness. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends (29b). When people are indulged in “I”, “me” and “myself” and are drowned in self-absorbed conversations, self-centered meditations and egoistic conclusions they are suffering from ‘entitlement syndrome’. The prescription pill to heal from self-centric muse is service. The pill is ‘selfless service’ and the tonic is ‘generosity’.
The offended elder brother lost his special place of honour in the family meal and celebration. Similarly, the ‘entitlement syndrome’ will disconnect and steal our intimacy, the special place of security, on the bosom of the Saviour.
Luke 15:31 ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Let me never compare, complain or be culpable to the entitlement syndrome. I will take the prescription pills of gratitude, humility and generosity every day. Amen.
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