The Games People Play

Read Galatians 6:1-9

Everyone plays games. Games are fun, engaging, challenging and exciting. From the age of a toddler up to retirement age, everyone enjoys a good game. From peek a boo to gyn rummy and other card games we all like games. However, there are games people play that aren't acceptable before God. These games are games we play because we want things our way. They're games we play because we think we know better. And they're games we play because we lack respect for the will of God.

Probably the biggest of all the games people play is the game of playing God. Growing up I remember the game - king of the mountain where you'd find a hill and whoever was on top was the king and all others were trying to knock the "king" off the hill so he/she could become the king of the hill. The truth is we play this game with our faith more often than we should.

Galatians 6 gives us some instruction about how to avoid playing games like this. If we know someone is in sin we're told to restore them gently. This means speaking to them kindly about God's truth. Paul says we're to carry each other's burdens and at the same time carry our own load. This means we're responsible for ourselves as well as helping others in following Christ. And then the warning he gives is we're not to play games - don't be deceived he says because God will not be mocked. We will reap what we sow.

God desires from all His children that our walk match our talk. He wants our faith to be filled with His grace, truth and mercy. Yet so often we hedge our bets and try to justify our behavior even when it opposes the word and will of God. Listen, God is the One and Only Justifier. So we have to heed his commands and obey. Jesus said it best - if you love me you will obey my commands. And this is only possible when we've decided to live a Holy Spirit-led life and not a self-led life.