Life is a Game

Remember back when you were a child. What did you do with your spare time? Especially on rainy days? Did you play any games? Ever play Monopoly? Remember the thrill of playing? You'd go around the board too many times to count, take risks and chances, hoping for a good roll of the dice and a good dose of luck. You spent money like it was nothing knowing you'd eventually pass go and collect $200. Either that, or you'd tell yourself "it's only a game". When you were winning, it was thrilling. When you were losing, it was suddenly "boring" and no fun.
You collected your deeds, built your empire, strategized how to make more money and lose less. Remember the first time you ever won against an adult? Remember that feeling of total victory? Then what happened...the saddest realization...it really WAS just a game and now you needed to pick it all up, put it all back in the box, place it in the closet, and it was over. Once it was over, it didn't matter anymore if you won or lost, what you gained, what you lost, only that you played your best and got a feeling of satisfaction from being honest and fair.

Now fast forward to your adult life. You go "around the board" week after week, month after month, year after year, telling yourself things will be better next time around because "sooner or later you'll pass GO and collect your $200", your paycheck. You decide to take more chances, yet minimize your risks. When you're winning, you celebrate. When you're losing, life's no fun anymore. You spend your days trying to build what you have, your "stuff" collection, desiring more and more every year. You enjoy the thrill of beating out the next guy for that position, the best deal, the corner office, a bigger house, a more expensive car, but then what happens?
You realize you've spent your life going around the board, it's almost over, and soon it'll be time to pack it all away - game over. What will matter then? The material things? I don't think so. The job title? I doubt it. What you owned? No one will care.

The only thing that will matter is who we helped, how we loved others, and what a difference we made in the lives of those who knew us. So let's live our lives to make them really matter. Not going around the board, but making a real connection - to God, to our family, to our friends, neighbors, and strangers in need.

After all, the other stuff won't matter once our box is put away. Remember, life is just a game.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Your Word says that faith without works is dead. We want to live a life pleasing to You, so help soften our hearts and open our eyes. Help us to see the world through Your eyes - full of compassion and with a strong desire to tell others about you, whether it be with our words or through our caring actions. Guide us to the path You would desire us to follow, lead us to the people You would will us to care for. We ask this to bring You the glory and honor, and so others can have the relationship with You and Jesus that we already get to treasure so dearly in our own lives. We ask in Jesus' Name, Amen.