deserve?

I have been thinking about the word 'deserve'. It is one that we as Americans throw around a lot.
I 'deserve' a break!
You 'deserve' that piece of cake or that 300 dollar phone etc...
That person 'deserves' what he gets.
All Americans 'deserve' health care.

I was thinking about it in regards to me and eating. I began my fast today and I feel like crap. So I am taking this day slow. But then I got to wondering about that word 'deserve'. Do I 'deserve' a slow day? Am I not the one who got myself into this situation? It may not have been entirely a conscious decision to over indulge when I was young ... especially as it then snowballed into an addiction in my teen and adult years. But somewhere in there I was aware that my overeating was a problem. The issue is that no matter how many times I have tried to overcome my addiction - I am incapable of freeing myself of its bondage. Yet here I am still - with the same mentality that I have begun this whole thing with - 'I deserve'.

So I looked up all the verses with the word deserve in it and also looked up the definition. Deserve simply means that we get what our deeds render, we reap what we sow. If I plant tomatoes - I will get tomatoes. Well than - haven't I gotten what I deserve? If I have eaten to the point of gluttony - than it stands to reason that I am a glutton (or is the reverse true - I am a glutton - so I eat to the point of gluttony?) and thus I am overweight and unhealthy - the natural consequences of such behavior.

But that is not how Americans use this word is it? - they use the word more like it means 'entitled'. Which means to authorize or privilege. For example - I have a coupon for half off my entree - this authorizes me to get this discount. I have been given a special privilege - and this is outside of the normal practice... It denotes that I am a special case or different in some way. The problem with Americans though, is that this kind of privilege is bestowed on us regularly - and now we have come to expect it - regularly.

My regular entitlement is .... I should get to eat whatever tastes good. Whatever people serve me... that I need a feast, that I should get to eat however and whenever I want. Oh and regardless of all of that eating - I should then also be thin and attractive and fit and not have to work at it. I think I am 'entitled' to a different body, set of circumstances, different stomach, a different mind or even a free pass from all of this nonsense. So then I start to blame God for making me this way - or allowing this or that to happen etc etc.... And wow - that will get messy quick - and pretty sure I am on the losing end of that conversation!

So what is it that I deserve? In my sinful flesh - I can only reap what it sows - and that will be more sin. If I continue to allow my gluttony to win the day than I will reap its consequences. Because sin deserves more sin - because that is the only thing it can sow - so thus it is the ONLY thing it can reap.

But thank God - in Jesus I am entitled to so much more! Because He has given me the privilege to be united in Christ! In His death, resurrection, and new life - and only because of what Christ has done - and not from anything in me - He has secured so many promises - so many blessings, to those who are found in Him. So I am a special case - I actually am different - but not because I am American but because I am found in Christ! Those promises and blessings are mine because I am united to Christ! His grace entitles me to so many great things - He has given me so much MORE than I deserve.

So in regards to my body and eating what are my promises? .... I think I need to leave that for my next post!

Some interesting verses from my search:

For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:9

He repays people according to their deeds. He treats people as they deserve.
Job 34:11

He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.

Psalm 103:10

Give to the LORD the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his courts.

Psalm 96:8

But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”

Jeremiah 17:10

O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city—the city that bears your name—lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.

Daniel 9:18

Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.

Luke 10:7

Likewise, David said, “Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessings cause them to stumble, and let them get what they deserve.

Romans 11:9

For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

2 Corinthians 5:10