My former neighbor often talked about “the game of life,” and I can understand why he did. It’s part of human nature to approach life as one big game made up of a lot of little games. Competing can be fun, exciting, and stimulating.
But life is a whole lot more than a game—especially for a follower of Jesus Christ. When a believer needs to own the biggest house, drive the largest SUV, get the promotion first, and win every argument, something’s terribly wrong from God’s point of view. It’s not right to run over people’s feelings, bend or break the rules, and gloat over victories.
To approach life as one big game that you always have to win is to live in hopeless delusion and fantasy. While material possessions, professional success, and personal victories are enjoyable, they last only for this life. Then they’re all left behind.
Jesus instructed His disciples to deny themselves, identify with His cross, and follow Him in self-denial, and for some that even meant death (Mark 8:34-35). He made it clear to His disciples that artificial victories in “the game of life” don’t count for much. What really counts is what’s done for the Lord. — David C. Egner
If I have but Jesus, only Jesus—
Nothing else in all the world beside—
O then everything is mine in Jesus;
For my needs and more He will provide. —Olander
© 1950 Baptist Conference Press
Those who live for God are the real winners in life.
deepwaterwalk 
I’ve known a few people like that too. It gets tiresome feeling like you’re in the midst of a battle every time you try to have a conversation with them, so I find myself opting to spend less and less time around them. I find much more peace in spending time alone reading things like Eric Kampmann’s Trail Thoughts. I’d rather contemplate the journey of life than turn it into a game to be won at all costs. Thanks for a great post.
Welcome back, Maggie! Great post yourself.
Deep~
DO YOU ENJOY MATERIAL POSSESSIONS, SUCCESS, AND PERSONAL VICTORY? THE LOVING GOD THAT I SERVE WANTS ME TO ENJOY ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE, BUT NOT TO THE POINT OF SIN. MATERIAL POSSESSIONS, SUCCESS, AND PERSONAL VICTORY ARE NOT SIN… SO WE MUST NOT ACT AS IF THEY ARE. I’M SURE YOU HAVE MONEY TO SPARE, SO WHY NOT THROW IT ALL AWAY AND FOLLOW JESUS. REMEMBER THAT THE PIOUS JEWS THOUGHT THEY HAD IT ALL FIGURED OUT TOO, BUT YET THEY WERE REBUKED BY JESUS.
I think you’re missing the point Shawn. The God I know loves us, but our first and primal goal is his Glory and “enjoyment”. Posessions, success, etc are not sin, but pursuing them, often subliminally, over the desires of pleasing God is a sin. It’s called idolatry. I think David’s point is that our world puts so much empahsis on “enjoying life and living for yourself”, the last thing we need is promoting MORE of it.
Nicely put, Dan. I agree.