For Better or Worse … But NO Monopoly!
Galatians 5:13 — For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
I need to confess something.
My husband and I cannot play Monopoly together.
Seriously.
If you were at our wedding, there probably should have been a line in our vows that said, “For better or for worse, in sickness and in health, but absolutely NO Monopoly.”
Because apparently, when you put a little fake money, some plastic houses, and a couple of competitive personalities around a table, things can get ugly.
And I’m not proud of that.
Well, maybe a little.
But I’m working on it.
You know how it goes.
Somebody buys Boardwalk.
Somebody else lands on it.
Suddenly, a perfectly pleasant evening turns into a heated discussion about financial responsibility, questionable business practices, and whether your spouse actually loves you.
Not saying that’s happened in my house.
I’m just saying Monopoly has a way of revealing things about people.
And somehow, the person who says, “Oh, come on, it’s just a game!” is always the one who’s losing.
That would be me.
Funny how quickly winning stops being fun when you’re the one who isn’t winning.
But you know what?
The more I think about it, the more I realize that sometimes we approach real life the same way.
We’re constantly keeping score.
Who has the better job?
Who makes more money?
Whose kids are doing better?
Who got the promotion?
Who has the nicer house, the better vacation, or the more impressive accomplishments?
And before we know it, we’re measuring our own lives against everybody else’s.
As though somebody else’s success somehow means we’re falling behind.
Isn’t that exhausting?
We spend so much time trying to get ahead, prove ourselves, and make sure we don’t come in last.
And sometimes, without even realizing it, we begin treating people like competitors instead of people we’re called to love.
That’s why I love what Paul says in Galatians 5:13.
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”
Now, think about that.
Paul is talking about the freedom we have through Jesus.
But he reminds us that freedom isn’t an invitation to make everything about ourselves.
It’s an opportunity to love others.
To serve them.
To put their needs ahead of our own when love calls us to do so.
And that’s a completely different way of looking at life, isn’t it?
Because the world often tells us to get ahead.
Protect what’s yours.
Make sure nobody takes advantage of you.
Do whatever it takes to come out on top.
But Jesus shows us another way.
A way where greatness is found in serving.
Where humility matters more than recognition.
And where loving your neighbor is more important than proving you’re better than your neighbor.
The world teaches us to climb over one another. Jesus teaches us to make room for one another.
Now, don’t misunderstand me.
There’s nothing wrong with working hard.
There’s nothing wrong with having goals.
And there’s certainly nothing wrong with enjoying a little friendly competition.
Although, in my house, we may need to redefine the word friendly.
But there’s a difference between wanting to do well and needing somebody else to lose so we can feel like we’ve won.
And sometimes that difference shows up in the smallest moments.
It’s celebrating a coworker’s promotion even when you were hoping for one yourself.
It’s being genuinely happy when a friend receives a blessing you’ve been praying for.
It’s giving someone else credit instead of making sure everybody knows what you contributed.
It’s choosing to listen instead of insisting on having the last word.
Or admitting you were wrong when every competitive bone in your body wants to keep arguing.
And let me tell you, that last one can be tough.
Because serving others in love isn’t always convenient.
Sometimes it costs us our pride.
Sometimes it means setting aside our preferences.
Sometimes it means cheering for someone else when we’re still waiting for our own breakthrough.
But here’s something beautiful about the freedom Jesus gives us.
We don’t have to spend our lives trying to prove we’re more valuable than somebody else.
Our worth isn’t determined by whether we’re ahead or behind.
It isn’t measured by how much we own, how much we accomplish, or how many people we manage to impress.
Our identity is found in Christ.
And when we begin to understand that, something changes.
We can celebrate someone else’s success without feeling threatened.
We can help another person succeed without wondering what we’ll get in return.
We can stop keeping score long enough to actually enjoy the people God has placed in our lives.
And maybe that’s one of the most freeing things of all.
Not having to win every argument.
Not having to be first.
Not having to make every relationship a competition.
Just being free to love.
Free to serve.
Free to be genuinely happy when someone else has a reason to celebrate.
You know, I don’t think Jesus was ever trying to teach us how to win at Monopoly.
Which is probably a good thing, because my husband and I could use some serious help in that department.
But He did show us how to live for what matters most.
And His example reminds us that a meaningful life isn’t measured by how far ahead we get.
It’s measured by how faithfully we love God and the people around us.
So today, I want you to think about something.
Is there someone you’ve been treating a little too much like a competitor?
Someone whose success makes you feel like you’re losing?
Someone you’ve been trying to outdo, outshine, or prove wrong?
What might happen if you stopped keeping score?
What if, instead of trying to come out on top, you looked for a way to help them flourish?
Because at the end of the day, the most important things in life aren’t things we can buy with Monopoly money.
And the people God has placed in our lives?
They’re not the competition. They’re the people we’re called to love.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
- Have you ever found yourself comparing your accomplishments, possessions, or circumstances to someone else’s? How did it affect your attitude?
- What does Galatians 5:13 teach us about the purpose of the freedom we have in Christ?
- Why is it sometimes difficult to celebrate someone else’s success when we’re still waiting for something we want?
- Is there a relationship in your life where the desire to be right or come out ahead has become more important than showing love?
- What’s one practical way you can put someone else’s needs ahead of your own this week?
QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY
Am I treating the people around me like competitors to beat or people God has called me to love?
