Monopoly without Rules

Everything looks right, as I pass by the dynamic duo's game of Monopoly. It's when I sat down near the game and listened that I realized that this game was not by the rule book. “Let's trade deeds.” I also discovered that anytime they bought a property they put all the money in the middle (to make it interesting) instead of the bank. Then I hear the words, “Your cheating!”

I'm baffled, how can you cheat at a game with out set rules?

On a daily basis we can do much the same, if instead of setting Christ before us, we compromise and set our own standards; to our own liking - just like when we measure our actions by what we see or feel.

A good sign that we are not living by the rule of Christ is when failure or correction comes, often evidenced by our initial responses to quickly accuse or blame others.

Maybe, it would do us good to look at Who is setting the rules? Sometimes failure can be the gift that points us back to the beginning,  to Him who loved us and forgave us all our sins.  We will always fail without His law of love leading our lives. 

Our daily life before the Father is no game where failure cost us very little; to fail at love is to fail in life. His loving guidelines always bring life and peace and everyone who plays by His rule of love - wins in life. 

The Christian life is not adding Jesus to one's own way of life but renouncing that personal way of life for His and being willing to pay whatever cost that may require."  ~John MacArthur

Picture taken about the time of this writing, 2000.  Joseph and Benjamin playing Monopoly without Rules.:-)