A good work ethic means staying late to finish the work someone else didn’t want to do or didn’t feel he had to do. It means giving up lunch to take care of a customer. It means putting in more than your time – and then some. Our country was founded on a solid work ethic. The founders were faced with difficult decisions, but they took this infant government and turned it into one supported by faith in God and a place where everyone could succeed if they possessed that desire to work for it.

Now we have become a nation of many who expect things to be done for them; a country that saps those with a good work ethic, so that those who don’t want to work can take advantage of a system that keeps making it possible. I’m not saying that we should not take care of those who need it, but when we create an environment of entitlement, it’s wrong.  Part if the problem is that our churches have failed to step up to the plate when it comes to helping those in need.

It’s imperative that we as parents, grandparents and a nation teach our children that entitlement doesn’t exist for those of us that follow Christ. We are entitled to nothing, but we are given everything because of God’s love for us. Do we then sit back and wait for heaven, knowing that we don’t have to do anything to get there? Of course not. Our work has just begun.  Let it begin within our families and our churches.

With grateful hearts for our salvation, let’s thank God for the grace He provided by sending His Son to take our place and make full atonement for our sins. We are not entitled to any of it, but He gives it freely.  We then should turn our thanks into action towards those in need.  That action isn’t always monetary.  It can be something as simple as  making a meal, cutting the grass,  grocery shopping – running errands – sitting with them and talking – being a friend – giving them a hug.

We’ve been so blessed as Christians.  Our cup of joy should spread over all those we meet.  If we can do one thing that will genuinely help others, it’s to introduce them to Jesus and let them know what He’s already given them.

Our world is full of hurting people.  Depression and anxiety are commonplace.  The daily news alone is enough to make us depressed.  Those emotions are real and difficult to overcome, but we won’t if we continue to feel we deserve more than we have.  In fact, we should even consider our work a gift from God.