“When the game is over, it all goes back in the box.”               – John Ortberg

Last week, I attended a conference in San Diego. John Ortberg was one of the guest speakers. The quote above is his and it’s also the name of one of his many books. I’ve always been a fan of his keen discernment and relevant delivery of practical daily wisdom. He delivered a fabulous 30-minute talk and went on his way but I kept thinking about this simple phrase, which I correlated with a hybrid of the games Life & Monopoly in my mind; “When the game is over, it all goes back in the box.” If I’m honest, I haven’t read the book yet [though I plan to] but I think I understand the premise.  

We love to play board games as a family and there is a fair amount of banter and competitive ribbing that accompanies each game, but it’s all in love and fun. At the end of the evening, when the game is over, it doesn’t matter who wins, who has the most chips, coins, funny-money, checkers, mini-plastic houses, etc., it all goes back in the box.  

Obviously, this is a brilliant metaphor for our own lives as well. I have spent the past nearly 20 years strategizing over my own real-life Monopoly board, competing against myself and hoping to wind up “winning” in the end…whatever that means.  

This got me thinking about a verse in the Bible (Matthew 6:21), which reads, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be also.” This is such a revealing scripture and one I feel convicted by each time I read it. Put another way, ask yourself this question; “What is it that makes me crazy when the things I care about get threatened?” 

Hold up! Don’t mess with my money or my stuff. Not cool! But let’s be honest. Is it possible that our money and our stuff or even the lack thereof, may hold an unhealthy or skewed place in our hearts? I know it does in mine at times and it’s something I need to constantly keep in check. When we hold our finances and our stuff with open hands instead of clinched fists, we exhibit a posture of surrender, which brings freedom instead of bondage. I use the word bondage because many of us have become “slaves to our stuff”. I think the only way to truly get to this place of surrender, we must first humble ourselves and acknowledge that God has blessed us and it’s all His to begin with.  

Question + Challenge: Do you spend too much time worrying about your stuff or your money? Is there something you really want to purchase right now? A home? A car? An Apple Watch? There is nothing wrong with any of these things! The challenge is simple. Let’s take a moment to surrender these things to God and ask Him to lead us in these decisions. Furthermore, take a moment to think about who in your sphere may be in need of either money or some other resource and where you might be able to extend generosity to help another brother in need. I guarantee your small sacrifice will yield a huge blessing!

Would love to hear your thoughts.

Let’s get it!