The Game of Life

Today I am back in Katy (home). My little sister asked if I wanted to play a game with her and my older sis, and I said sure. She told me it was a game called "life". My older sister and myself used to play this when we were younger and I haven't played in a long time. So after getting the game set-up I began to remember the rules.

Basically, to start off "life" you have 10,000 dollars. You get to start on one of two paths, either going to college or just starting your career. The benefit of starting your career is you get to have a head start on everyone else, and start getting paid. The college path puts you 40,000 dollars in debt before you even start, takes more time, and just like in real life, you have more job options. The whole time you are in a car driving through "life". Now it gets interesting: to get a job you blindly pick from a deck of cards. The job you get barely matters, except that based on your job, when people land on different spots, they give you some money. :) In addition to picking a job randomly, you also pick a salary randomly. This ranges from 30,000 to 100,000! So even if you are a doctor, you can make 30 grand, or an artist can make 100 grand. It's all based on luck. But don't worry, your job and salary make change during your "life". Along the way you get married. This isn't a choice, you come to a stop sign and get a wife or husband. They sit next to you in car (the man always drives). You also get a house at random. These houses can either be 30,000 or 200,000 dollars. After you get a house, you start racking up kids. This, too, is random. If you land on a space you get a kid. Or you can adopt, and sometimes you get twins. The number of kids you have only affects schooling, everything doesn't get affected. The end of the game is retirement. And the winner is based on who has the most money.

Now for my overly in depth analysis of this child's game. :)

Okay, at first when we started playing, i noted to my older sis that this game seems to influence children very much toward the American Dream. I mean the end all of the game is to retire with the most money! "The one with the most toys wins"...That is scary that children are being taught this lie from such a young age! People can say this about other games, like monopoly, but this game is supposed to be a game about life. I guess looking at the American dream, that is pretty accurate since so many people "live" for the pursuit of money and the get the most toys.

Also, what does this say to destiny? The most important decisions in life are made by random luck and chance? You're job is simply what is given to you, as are your salary, spouse, and house. You have no say in your future, God has no say in your future, there is just a hidden mystical being which deals you your cards and you just have to learn to "live" with it.

I also want to point out the American ideals that are pushed onto children in this game (not that necessarily disagree with these values): You get married. Your spouse is to be the opposite sex. You do have kids. You pay your taxes. You work your whole life. You retire. You get a job. You get a house. Like I said, I don't necessarily disagree with these, but it's amazing to see these ideals taught to children so early.

Let's look at life in a more Biblical way. Jesus declares in prayer to the Father in John 17:3 that true life is to know God and Jesus, who was sent by God. This is the definition of true life given by the creator of life himself!!! God is not seen in the game of "life". And, honestly, I'm glad. I can imagine how badly milton bradley would mess up God and impart a mere sense of religion onto children. But life as we are meant to know it is KNOWING God. Not just acknowledging him, but knowing him. Entering a relationship with him Life isn't about collecting the most money. Winning has nothing to do with what we do...it doesn't make sense, does it? Our victory is in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:56-57). His victory is over death. Yes, friends, death is the enemy that man spends his whole "life" fighting. And Jesus, by taking death on, has succeeded over it. Our goal in life is to be God. In Phillipians 3:8 Paul declares that he has counted all things as loss (that includes his career, salary, house, wife (i know he wasn't married, but that had to be a doing of God) and everything else that the game of "life" says we need to store up). All these things are a loss and Christ is what he has gained. To the world this doesn't make sense. It is actually nonsensical. "Trade everything for a guy who died 2,000 years ago???" Well, if Christ stayed dead, then yes, that would be stupid. But Christ is risen and has victory! There is much reason in trusting in him now!

As to the notion of destiny, God was/is/ and will always be in control. He is the one who plans out everything. And nothing is in opposition to his plan. No, we don't have power and control over our lives. No, destiny is not the hidden hand that directs life. God works to his glory. (Romans 8:28). Proverbs 3:5-6 assures us that when we trust in God, he will take care of us. He is the one makes our paths. He is in control. Our job, spouse, location, and every other facet of life is not random to God. But he has spent much time planning out our course. That should be encouraging.

I know this was lot to take out of a little game, but it really got me thinking. We, who have grown up in the west, have such false ideals held up as good. We are called to a better life, seeking pleasure and satisfaction above all else. And even though we may think "I got this covered. I trust God with my life." we still look to the American Dream to give us what it promises. I am glad that I got to play this game and be reminded of the "life" that God is not calling me to live. I was able to see in simple terms what the American Dream is made out to be and how much it is in contrast to Biblical living. I hope that this long discussion benefited you as it did me.