The Games People Play: Monopoly Series

But Jesus used a different word to describe this man’s life. Do you know what word Jesus uses to describe this man’s life – FOOL – FOOL. You see the kingdom of god lasts for eternity, this world is temporary. He was so busy making a living, that he never took time to make a life. Her is something we can learn from Monopoly. No matter who wins the game and aquires the most and no matter by how big a margin, at the end of the game the result is the same. It all goes back in the box. Sometimes we just chase after success so hard we can’t see anything else. What we need to do is make sure we focus on the thing that will last.

The bible defines success differently. If we really want to take Jesus seriously then we will listen to what he has to say about success and how we should spend our lives. If we really want him in our lives and we really want what he offers then we need to look at the guide book for the Christian life.

In Mark 10. Jesus defines success. He tells his disciples that whoever wants to be great, whoever wants to be a success will be the one who is the greatest servant. Then he added this in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Our culture says that if we want make it to the top we got to step on a few heads. If we’re going to be number one then we got to push and shove our way in. We got to prove we are important and acquire and succeed and have all the things that say that about us. But Jesus said success is not stepping on people, its helping them up.

It’s serving, without expecting in return. He says look at my example. I had the kingdom of heaven at my feet. I gave up heaven and became a man. I became a servant. And that’s what I want you to do too.

There is a story about a man who went to the doctor after weeks of symptoms. The doctor examined him carefully. Then he said you wait her. I’ve got to talk to your wife. “Your husband is suffering from a rare form of anemia. Without treatment, he’ll be dead in a few weeks. The good news is, it can be treated with proper nutrition.”

“You will need to get up early every morning and fix your husband a hot breakfast—pancakes, bacon and eggs, the works. He’ll need a home-cooked lunch every day, and then an old-fashioned meat-and-potato dinner every evening. It would be especially helpful if you could bake frequently. Cakes, pies, homemade bread—these are the things that will allow your husband to live. “One more thing. His immune system is weak, so it’s important that your home be kept spotless at all times. Do you have any questions?” The wife had none.

“Do you want to break the news, or shall I?” asked the doctor.

“I will,” the wife replied.

She walked into the exam room. The husband, sensing the seriousness of his illness, asked her, “It’s bad, isn’t it?”

She nodded. “What’s going to happen to me?” he asked. With a sob, the wife blurted out, “The doctor says you’re gonna die!”

There is something about many of us that resist being a servant. We know we should but we don’t want to. So I’d like to give you some reasons why we should all serve somewhere.