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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OPPORTUNITIES TO DEMONSTRATE GOD’S LOVE

“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them.  The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”  (Leviticus 19:33-34 NIV)

I have been exploring my genealogy for a number of years, thanks to the initial work of my maternal grandfather over 50 years ago. I have also had my DNA explored as part of that to see where I have come from – mostly Germany and Great Britain. My ancestors immigrated to Wisconsin in the early to mid 1800’s. I have been married to a Canadian for 50 years. My sister married a man whose ancestors came from Mexico. (Happy Cinco de Mayo to that part of my family.) A niece is exploring her Jewish roots and coming to a realization that some of her ancestors survived the Holocaust and some didn’t. And here in Door County, Wisconsin, we are awaiting an influx of J-1 Visa students -- from a variety of countries in Eastern Europe and South America -- to bolster our service industry for the summer.

All that being said, I share this reminder from Leviticus (above) along with the quote (below) from “The Life Application Study Bible”  that goes along with the scripture:

“How do you feel when you encounter foreigners, especially those who don’t speak your language? Are you impatient? Do you think or act as if they should go back to where they came from? Are you tempted to take advantage of them? God says to treat foreigners as you would treat fellow countrymen, to love them as you love yourself. In reality, we are all foreigners in this world because it is only our temporary home. View strangers, newcomers and foreigners as opportunities to demonstrate God’s love.” 

-- Rev. David T. Wilkinson, SOUND BITES Ministry

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A VAIN PURSUIT

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions -- is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”  (1 John 2:15-17 ESV)

Finding meaning in life apart from God is a vain pursuit. Security and contentment are found only in a personal relationship with God. The contentment we find in the opportunities and successes of this life is temporary. The more we expect our successes to be permanent, the more quickly they are gone.

-- Life Application Bible

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INVESTING YOUR LIFE

Baseball is temporary. All this stuff, putting up numbers and such is temporary. If you invest your life into worldly things, you’re going to be left unhappy. As good as yesterday’s game was -- two home runs and you’re on top of the world -- three days later you might strike out three times and the game’s over. It’s a roller coaster. But God’s love is everlasting. That’s what... I try to tell kids. That can never be taken away from you.

You better invest your life into those kind of things if you truly want happiness, because you’re not going to find happiness in baseball or your job or anything else. God is the only One who will never let you down.

-- Jeff Francoeur, MLB player, in Sports Spectrum


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