Think of it like a Board Game

Do we read the directions?

Now, this isn’t for those that don’t claim to be believers.

This is for those who claim the name of Jesus. Those that claim to be Christians.

Do we read the directions?

Of course, I am talking about the Bible. Do we read it to see how we should live our lives?

How we should run our churches?

Or do we just take the parts we like and ignore the rest?

And if we do that, what are we saying?

Think of it like this.

Have you ever played Monopoly?

I’m not asking if you have ever finished a game of Monopoly, but if you have ever played it.

Did you put money in the middle?

You know, where you pick it up if you land on Free Parking?

We always did.

But, and this may surprise some of you, we aren’t supposed to do that.

The official rules have nothing about collecting money when landing on Free Parking.

It is just a place to ‘park’ your token without having to pay anything.

Lizzie Maggie [the woman who originally created the game] might be frustrated that we aren’t playing by her rules. At least, if she hadn’t passed away in 1948 she might be.

But what are we saying when we don’t play by the rules a game maker created?

Aren’t we saying that our plan is better?

That we like our rules more?

That their game is okay, but it is missing something?

Obviously, when playing games, we are allowed to do that.

Often even encouraged to do so.

They even have their own name, house rules.

But what about when it comes to the Bible?

Should we follow only the rules we like and ignore the others?

If God created the universe, if God created humanity, then He knows how it all works best.

And whether or not we agree with His rules doesn’t really matter.

They are the best. Period.

Yet we often do that with our money, with our families, with our churches and with our lives.

We ignore the rules that God has instructed and decide that we have a better plan.

That we like our rules more.

That God’s plan is okay, but it is missing something and thank goodness we came along to develop the house rules that the Bible always needed.

I don’t think we mean to say that.

At least I hope we don’t.

However, when we decide to ignore what He has told us about our lives, our faith and the church that is what we are saying.

Whether we mean to or not, that is what we are saying.

Let’s get back to the instruction book and do it according the Designer.

According to His rules.

That is how all of life works best.

Of course, I’ll still put money at Free Parking. That game really did need that.