Games People Play

Please read:
- Philippians 2:1-18 NAS
- James 3:1-12 NAS

While I was growing up in the 70's and the 80's, my family and I would take a long vacation (one to two weeks) every summer. Most of the time we drive from one place to another. To help keep us occupied, my mom would sometimes read to us articles from the Kitchen Klatter Magazine that she would get in the mail. Other times she would read to us from a book. Two books that I remember very well (and still have) are 'Fuzzy Bones' and 'Fuzzy Papers'.

When my mom didn't feel like reading, I would sometimes entertain myself with reading my own books or playing a games like travel bingo. Other times we would play a game like going through the alphabet using the letters that we saw on billboards and license plates. All of these activities would help the time to pass more quickly, so that it would seem that we arrived at our destination sooner.

I have played numerous bard and board games over the years with friends and family. Just a few of them are Monopoly, Risk, Clue, Chutes and Ladders, Mr. Mouth, etc. Usually I have really enjoyed playing games with others. Games can be a great way to help people get to better know each other. It can also be a great way to have fun and help facilitate conversation. My kids are both getting to the age where they can join my wife and I in some games. And they have loved it! But, not all games are good.

A song that was popular when I was growing up was “Don't Go Breaking My Heart” by Elton John & Kiki Dee. Unfortunately, I am sure that a lot of people have experienced this. A person would lead someone else on, manipulating their emotions in one way or another. Although not always, it would often be an issue of commitment from one person. Unfortunately that would often lead to great heartache. It is saddening that some people continuously do this with one person after another. After one person finally puts their foot down, the manipulator goes and finds someone else to lead around.

But, that isn't the worse of it. There are those who are very good manipulators and play con games with others. But, instead of just misleading a person's heart, they use their charm and manipulative skills to take things from others. Things like money, healthy, and/or property. For them, it's a game with how much they can take from others and how many lives they can hurt, or even destroy, before they are caught. Many of these people go for years before they are stopped, leaving a trail of emotional, physical, and spiritual wreckage in their wake.

I have observed some very manipulative people in my life. And, it saddens me to say, there are many within the physical church. It could be a congregation that has very unhealthy dynamics, a lay leader who uses his/her position to manipulate others, or even a pastor who uses his/her position to take advantage of others. I have even seen youth, who don't like how a youth leader does things, to 'play games' to try and get rid of that person.

These 'games people play' can take the form of spreading false rumors, being argumentative with someone over petty things, character assassination, showing ill will towards those who support someone they don't like, or even making false accusations with law enforcement or with a church or denomination’s legal organization. I have read numerous articles over the years with how a person or group within a church destroyed a person's life through false accusations. Even though they were later found innocent of the charges, their reputation and, potentially their ministry career, was ruined.

The thing is, we don't just 'play games' with each other, we also try to play games with God. Think about it… How often have you gone through life making excuses for things you may have said or done that you knew displeased God? When you justify your actions, are you not trying to play games with God? Take a moment and read about why God choose David (1 Samuel 16:1-11 NAS and how God later confronted David (2 Samuel 12:1-15 NAS). In both examples, God shows us that He knows what is on our hearts, what our attitudes are. Whether we like it or not, we cannot lie to God. We can only believe the lies that we tell ourselves. And God will confront us about it.

While playing card games and board games can be a great and wholesome form of entertainment, not all games are good. God calls us to be honest with ourselves, with each other, and with Him. When we try to play games with others so that we can manipulate them, we are not just being selfish, but we are essentially lying to them (and to God) about what our real motives are. Let us strive to repent of when we are false with each other, and towards God. That way we can edify (to build up) each other and tear each other down.