THE GAME OF LIFE – Part 1 of 2

At first glance, Monopoly might seem like nothing more than a competitive scramble for cash, property, and power. But if we look closer, this classic board game can actually serve as a thought-provoking metaphor for biblical truths about life, stewardship, and eternity.

In Monopoly, no matter how many hotels you own or how much cash you’ve stacked, the game eventually ends. When it’s over, everything goes back in the box. The Bible reminds us of the same reality: “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:7). Our earthly possessions are temporary; what truly matters is how we use them for God’s purposes. And at the end of your life, you, too, will go into a box.

In the game, you never truly “own” the board -- you’re just managing resources for a time. Likewise, scripture teaches that “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). We are stewards, entrusted with time, talents, and treasures to manage wisely. Winning in God’s eyes isn’t about accumulation, but about faithfulness.

-- Mark A. Brady, from his blog

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THE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL – Part 1 of 3

“Jesus said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’”  (Luke 12:15)

In Luke 12 we find the parable of the rich fool. A man comes to Jesus and asks Him to command his brother to divide their family’s inheritance. Jesus was reluctant to resolve this dispute, but He took the occasion to speak with them about how they handle their possessions. So Jesus interrupts their conversation to tell them to be on their guard against covetousness.

“One’s life,” He said, “does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” Luke 12:15 ESV). At this point He tells them a story about a rich man whose land produced a great crop. The harvest was so great that he ran out of storage. “What shall I do?” he thought. He then decided he must build bigger barns. He would store his produce, and then tell himself to relax, to eat, drink and be merry, for he had ample goods laid up for many years…

We accumulate and never feel we have enough. What we do have, we do not want to let go… What’s your attitude toward things?

-- Excerpted from “How to Finish the Christian Life: Following Jesus in the Second Half” by Donald W. Sweeting & George Sweeting  

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HANDLING OUR POSSESSIONS

“Then Jesus said, ‘Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own… Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.’”   (Luke 12:15,21 NLT)

Our world is full of “things” and “stuff” -- that is, possessions. We have an inbuilt desire to possess things. We find ourselves eager for possessions and for all that money promises and provides. But if we are not careful, we find ourselves trusting money to buy us life, and our lives are governed more and more by the pursuit of possessions. This is a trap. There are many things that money can’t buy for us, and there are some things that money will actually take from us…

If the pursuit of possessions purchased from profits is the essence of our existence, one’s life is measured by what one owns. Money becomes our god. We are owned by our money and possessed by our possessions.

So what do we do? We should accept possessions gladly, hold them lightly, use them wisely, share them unselfishly, and offer them worshipfully to God for His use. The quality of one’s life is seen in how well we handle things rather than letting things handle us. 

-- Adapted from Stuart Briscoe in “Daily Study Bible for Men” 

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POSSESSIONS AND FAITH

It is a long-known principle that when wealth is tightly held, it waters down faith. In the Middle Ages some monks put it this way: “Discipline begets abundance; abundance, unless we use the utmost care, destroys discipline.” Evangelist John Wesley put it his way: “I fear, wherever riches have increased, the essence of religion has decreased in the same proportion!” Religion, he believed, must necessarily produce industry and frugality, and these produce riches. But as riches increase, so does pride, anger, and love of the world. American Puritans like Cotton Mather put it this way in speaking of his beloved New England and its spiritual decline: “Religion begat prosperity and the daughter devoured the mother.” Perhaps this is why Jesus said, “Take care, and be on your guard,” when it comes to your possessions (Luke 12:15 ESV).

If you can’t take it with you when you go, then now is the time to learn to be generous. Be generous because it is the nature of God to be generous. 

-- Donald W. Sweeting & George Sweeting in “How to Finish the Christian Life: Following Jesus in the Second Half”

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