Matters of Faith: You Deserve It!

There was an interesting conversation that took place between a colleagues and me. She was sharing how intentional she had to be to take advantage of an opportunity that she deserved. But worried it would require her to encourage one of her clients to recognize and embrace her accessibility to a particular group of people. What she deserved would only come to reality if her client understood what she deserved. What became glaringly obvious to us was that both she and her client were dealing with internal voices that said neither one of them deserved what was before them. My colleague felt she didn’t deserve a client who had access to the people who could provide what she deserved, and her client didn’t think she should have access to the people who could make it all possible. After all, who were they to deserve to be in these positions?

Something clicked for me. I thought about the ways we limit our potential because we don’t think that we deserve to be who we are, to have the things we have, or the get the things we deserve. Some are born into a world of privilege, yet feel that they are not deserving. Some people have scrapped their way into positions unavailable to their ancestors, but still do not believe that they deserve to be there.

The Gospel of Luke (15:11-21) tells the story of a rich man with two sons, one took what was his by inheritance, or what he deserved. And the other son who stayed home, not realizing what he deserved.

11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.”  

This son understood what he deserved by birthright. He took it, then went and squandered it. Some people understand what they deserve, but not the responsibility that goes along with it. If you’re deserving, “What do you do with it when you get it?”

It’s an inheritance. Either by bloodline or effort, tenacity, and/or fortitude, you now stand at the threshold of your inheritance. One son squandered his inheritance, the other son likewise deserved an inheritance, but didn’t take anything he was entitled to. It was like having access to all the money in the world and taking only a penny. In fact, he became furious when his brother returned and his father threw him a party. He couldn’t identify with his brother’s irresponsible lifestyle nor his father’s graciousness to forgive him. But his father knew what both of his sons deserved. “31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”

Whether your inheritance is by birth or by effort, you deserve every blessing that has been stored up for you. Happiness! Joy! A loving husband or wife! Conscientious children! Your promotion! That award! That smile! It’s all yours! It’s always been yours! Enjoy it. You deserve it!

Be Blessed!