Has anyone ever heard of “The Game of Life” by Milton Bradley?
The Game of Life is a board game that takes you on the journey of life - you can be the rich man, the poor man, or even the beggar. In this game you learn that life is full of surprises. You can risk everything for BIG gains or you can lose it all in a moment.
Does anyone know when the Game of Life was first published? 1860.
Does anyone know how many times it has been re-published through the years? 1866, 1959, 1961, 1978, 1985, 1999, 2002, 2004, & 2006 (9+ times).
The Game of Life has changed through the years … it’s look … it’s pieces … it’s quality.
But one thing has remained the same … THE GOAL IS TO GET TO THE MANSION.
Man, that sounds a lot like our spiritual journey - there are good times, hard times - things change throughout the years - but the goal of every person is to get to the MANSION - not in this life, but in eternity.
Life is not a game. It has serious consequences for bad decisions and great outcomes for godly decisions.
Growing families - high taxes - bills - mortgage/rent payments - death - insurance - and so much more is a part of life.
But I like games - mostly video games - but my wife LOVES family games.
I am going to try and make a spiritual application for every game my wife loves.
SCRABBLE - when life get’s confusing God makes sense of it all.
CLUE - when you sin you will be found out!
TABOO - when you say something you shouldn’t God still loves you!
MAD GAB - learning how to hear what God is really saying.
The list could go on and on - just a few more games.
MONOPOLY - discovering how to manage your finances.
RISK - doing what God has called you to do no matter what.
TRIVIAL PURSUIT - God’s answers to life’s most difficult questions.
CANDYLAND - finding your sweet spot in God’s kingdom.
The truth is you can learn lessons from these games, but the life we live is no game.
In Luke 9:24 we are told that “if we give up our life for [Jesus] we will find true life.”
The word for true in this passage is “sozo” – that’s the same word for salvation – it simply means to be “made whole.”
Jesus wants each of us to have a whole, complete life!
I want to share with you 4 Life Strategies towards a whole, complete life.
1. Live like today is the first and last day of your life
Life is not like a board game or a video game - when it ends it’s over - you can’t reset or re-start.
When life ends it’s game over!
Choose to live everyday like it is the first and last day of your life.
Check this out -
SOUND / LIGHTING – Play the video. It is contained in the powerpoint. Make sure the volume is up and lights are off.
One life - live it well!!!
2. Focus on what really matters most in your life
Many people struggle with this one - we don’t really admit it - but it’s true!
A lot of us live our lives like “things” matter - and sometimes like our “jobs” matter more than our families - or our reputation is more important than our character.
I have never seen a person who has died with a U-Haul attached to his/her hearse taking their possessions with them - you can’t!
When our lives conclude God will not care how many shoes we have in our closet or shirts we own - he will ask did you clothe the naked.
God will not care if we eat steak or chicken each night - he will ask did you feed the poor.
You see, things do not matter to God - people do!
God did not send his son to die on the cross to save things - he did it to show his love for people (John 3:16).
What matters most to God should matter most to us!
And that is summed up in one word – “Relationship.”
Two things in life really matter:
1. Your relationship with God
2. You relationship with family and friends
3. Determine to honor God in every area of your life
This life strategy can be summed up with one thought - INTEGRITY!
Each day I pray, “Lord, help me to honor you in everything I say, do, and think.”
And yeah, the truth is sometimes I blow it - but my heart is determined to HONOR GOD!
What are the main areas that we need to honor God?
1.Faith – do we have a growing faith? Are we keeping up with the commitments we made to him? Are we sharing our faith? Are we giving God our first and best?
2.Family – are we spending time with our family? Are we discipling our family? Are we providing for our family?
3.Finances – are we tithing 10%? Are we contributing to missions? Are we planning for our future? Are we handling God’s money well? Are we competing our assignment at work or clocking out early?
4.Fun – are we enjoying our lives? Are we doing things that makes God happy? Are we living like we are enjoying our Savior?
Make the decision, with me, to honor God in every area of your life.
4. Jesus is the source of a whole, complete life
We can’t get away from this.
John 14:6-7: “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (NIV).
Where do we get whole, complete life? Jesus.
Life is more than luck - it is more than rolling the dice hoping to get the right number - it is more than praying you land on the right space.
Real life is knowing that Jesus is your Life!
People have tried to find life outside of Jesus - scaling the highest mountains - diving into the deepest seas - exploring jungles - bungee jumping off tall buildings.
Why? They are still searching for a whole, complete life! And that cannot be found outside of Jesus.
Jesus is complete life because …
•He is our Authentic Leader
•He is our Relentless Lover
•He is our Extreme Forgiver
•He is our Faithful Friend
•He is our Supreme Conqueror
When you find Christ you find life!
CONCLUSION
Jesus said in John 10:10, “My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.”
Maybe you are struggling with one of the 4 Life Strategies we talked about today:
1.Living like today is the first and last day of your life
2.Focusing on what matters most in your life
3.Determining to honor God in every area of your life
4.Understanding that Jesus is the source of your life
God will help you live out these strategies - let’s pray!
