Compassion and entitlement like oil and water

For generations the narrative of entitlement as the moral equivalent of compassion has been center stage in most of our educational and religious institutions. Unconditional love is held in high esteem, and so, ironically, God has become increasingly irrelevant. Professing unconditional love is the highest moral ground so who needs God. On the other hand, approaching God with an expectancy of entitlement simply does not work, so why bother?

This sense of entitlement which scorns any requirements is death to learning, to loving, to humility, to prosperity, and leads to idolatry and the breakdown of society. Idolatry? The worshipping of material gods, nanny state, addictive pleasures, pantheism, etc. The Bible includes a recorded history of this pattern over thousands of years, time and time again a prosperous nation falling into a state of entitlement, turning away from the requirements of their God, and sinking into a miserable condition. Awakening to the demands of their God was followed by a return to prosperity. 

Here is an inspired synopsis of what is required: "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah) This is true unconditional love. "God is Love, therefore He is divine Principle... Principle is imperative. You cannot mock it with human will." (S&H)

In this context, "The hand that is open to give is open to receive" might be expressed "The hand that is open to give is entitled to receive." The hand that is closed shut is not entitled to anything. Is this lacking compassion? No. Rather instilling a sense of entitlement is a gross lack of compassion for it shuts out God and therefore shuts out Love.

"To be 'with the Lord' is to be in obedience to the law of God, to be absolutely governed by divine Love,— by Spirit, not by matter." (S&H)

"As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans) - true entitlement.