30/03/2024
ENTITLEMENT MENTALITY
It is not difficult to identify a fool. You have found one the moment you spot a man/woman without regard for God, family, friends, mentors or benefactors. They tend to believe that the world owes them something in exchange for nothing.
I am not really a social media person due to the fact that it has become a platform for accidental counsellors whose lives have yielded no result even after several decades of birth but want to impose their impotent views on others. They just jump in on a voyage of chasing wild goose to seek for the cheapest means of gaining fame or affluence or eke a living whether sustained or not.
I decided to write on this subject to address a concern that has been on my mind for over 5years which I believe is still very valid today especially because of the astronomic increase of obstinate folks in a generation full of jerks and erks.
Before you ask me who you help? Let me introduce myself a little. I have been of tremendous help and support to a good number of people around and I know that some persons of integrity who are close to me can attest to this fact. In fact, I have done for people more than I have ever received from anyone save for God. The number includes: family, relatives, friends, associates, church members, unfamiliar persons etc to the extent that I have given cash, food, paid rents, accommodation, clothing, medicals, school fees, travel, counsel, emotional support for marriages and relationships, dreams, businesses, employment, ministries, legal aid etc even when I am not under any form of obligation and at times to the detriment of my immediate family.
I know that some “holier than thou brethren” will try to school me with what Jesus said that {when you give alms, keep it to yourself}. Bro, I am not talking of alms giving, I am talking about SACRIFICE capable of inconveniencing or pushing the giver to the wall which is very uncommon in this generation. The truth is that at the end of the day, only a handful of them will ever acknowledge your sacrifice. Just like Jesus asked “are there not 10 lepers that was healed, where are the rest 9”. In fact some of them at the slightest provocation will denounce all your efforts.
Now, if you are on same side with me, especially if you are a benefactor to others, you will agree with me that the best thing to do is to show kindness to men without anticipating anything in return. However, every man desires to see his beneficiaries show kindness to others (you can also find this in the parable of the wicked servant who could not forgive after he was forgiven his debt to the master). So you can see that the primary reason we must show kindness is to empower people who will empower others and this will make this world a better place.
Some persons to whom I have showed kindness turned out to be of worth, while some others I don’t know whether to say ended in regret. Like you fed a cub who later turned to a lion and tried to make you his prey. So if we are not deliberate about these things, the primary aim will be defeated.
I will show you how to spot very close family or friends who will never be grateful for your sacrifice and who will never show mercy to others. Just like the axiomatic bible parable of the Sower: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
I know that some bible scholars will hurry to correct me, please I know what the parable speaks of but allow me to apply the analogy here.
Please keep a close watch at these persons no matter the relationship so that your investment into humanity will not fail.
HOW TO SPOT CLOSE ASSOCIATES WITH ENTITLEMENT MENTALITY
1. They react with derision whenever you dare say NO to their demands
Watch their reaction whenever you say NO to their demands after giving them so much. They will act like you are owing them or their father who probably made no impact in your life.
2. They are never truly grateful for your sacrifice:
They sing your praise publicly as recompense for your good deeds and express joy only for the moment. After a short time, your gift will expire then you’ll begin to see their true nature. They are so dumb that they think you don’t know their gimmicks.
3. They never acknowledge your sacrifice publicly in the presence of people from whom they seek validation or before whom they are competing secretly with you. They think your recognition will reduce their self-esteem/worth if people get to know how you have showed them kindness.
4. They are offended when you try to support another person and they don’t support anything that will be of benefit to another man except it comes with pecuniary gain.
5. They act like they own you as a personal property and like they know you more than anyone else. They think they are milking or using you, so they contact you only when they need your help.
6. They believe you gave them little out of your abundance, therefore they are never truly satisfied with your efforts/sacrifice. They may even go public to send cryptic messages to you when you place a stay on their demand.
7. They never give back to you or anyone else. They act like they don’t ever have to give.
I have heard a lot of people criticize their Pastors, Uncles, Aunts, Brothers, Sisters, friends or even Parents simply because they did not receive their expected assistance. My response to them usually is be patient until you become one, lets see if you can be of help to anyone.
Entitled people believe that they deserve privileges or recognition for things that they did not earn. They tend to believe that the world owes them something in exchange for nothing and that the mere fact that they are close to you as friends, family or church members gives them the right to make demands from you endlessly.
Don’t let anyone change you because of their wickedness, blackmail or manipulation rather continue to show kindness and do not be weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
The easiest way to decrypt them in your circle is to PAUSE your kindness to them, you will see them manifest immediately.
I hope this helps
My name is Godson Akhidenor
Email: [email protected]
