do you owe my master

Thinking about yesterday's sermon on money and the Christian, specifically the point made about freedom from discontent. Contentment deserves its own sermon at some point, for sure. And while commercials and the marketing industry deserve much of the blame for the desire in us to spend, spend, spend, one thing that should be given its due for our failures is our own sense of entitlement.

Americans have distorted the Declaration of Independence's term "pursuit of happiness". They perhaps think that the whole endowed by their Creator means it comes from the Bible. It does not. This pursuit of happiness, especially, has created in the average American a sense of entitlement.

Note to all: you are not entitled to the newest fashions. You are not entitled to eating out at restaurants on a regular basis. You are not entitled to cable television. You are not entitled to cellphones that can take pictures. You are not entitled to Christmas presents. You are not entitled to yearly vacations. You are not entitled to watching the latest Tom Hanks movie.

Debt is a serious spiritual issue. It reflects an inability to make non-selfish choices. It reflects an inability to have self-control, one of the fruits of the Spirit. It reflects discontentment with what the Provider of all things has given you. You want to pursue happiness? He's reaching out His hand to you and telling you to follow closely.