Do you like to play games? Our family does: Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Sorry, Connect Four, Operation, Break the Ice, Guess Who, Monopoly, Scrabble, Checkers, Chess, Risk, and so many more. But when the game’s over we gather all the pieces and it all goes back in the box.
Storyteller and author John Ortberg reminds us in his book by the same title, that it’s like that in real life too. When it’s all said and done and our time is spent, we only take with us what we brought to the game. Everything else, all our possessions and achievements, like the tokens and games pieces – it all goes back in the box.
It’s been said that Americans too often work at their play, play at their worship, and worship their work. Looking back at my own life, I certainly can see that I made Trivial Pursuit as much my life as a simple board game. How about you? It’s easy to get so wrapped up in the game we think it’s all there is. You’ve probably known some people for whom the game is cutthroat business. They’re after all the hotels on Boardwalk and Park Place and they don’t care who they have to walk over to get there. It’s fun to ‘win’ and get all the prizes we sought to gain. But we work so hard in life to gain things that don’t last and matter least in the end while making play out of the things that are eternal and matter most. But when the game’s over, it all goes back in the box. And we need to remember, the game IS going to be over at some point; probably before we expect.
Let’s aim higher, Let’s live with passion and purpose. Let’s fill our game board with what matters most in life – and beyond. Let’s desire to BE rich in character more than to HAVE material riches. Let’s choose our moves with wisdom and not leave our decisions to Chance or a toss of the dice. God has a better plan.
Let’s live for heaven’s sake. Choose today which ‘game’ we’re going to play and what priorities and strategies are needed to keep your eyes fixed on the prize that lasts. Make sure that when everything goes back in the box, that the prize you won is one that matters for all time.