Daily Bread

It's not a game

April 25, 2009 | 12:00am

Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

— Mark 8:34

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.

— Dave 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

READ: Mark 8:31-38

Those who live for God

are the real winners in life.

The Bible in one year:

• 1 Samuel 10-12