Playing By the Rules (The Game of Living in the Wisdom of God-2) (11/6/13)

Once you have set up the game board and placed your piece on start, the next step to successfully play any game is to learn the rules.  You accomplish this by reading the directions.  For a successful walk with God, the directions come from His Word.  Fear of the Lord, our starting point, respects the fact that His plan is the best.  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”  (Isaiah 55:9) We must acknowledge that He has the perfect plan for our life.  Then we must invest time and energy to find that plan. 

Learning the Word of God is the key to playing the game successfully.  The Bible is our rule book and our playbook.  Reading, studying and memorizing it provides the directions for our daily life. It guards against sin. “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11 ESV) It provides direction “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105 ESV)

Once we learn the rules, we must agree to abide by them.  Many board games and card games have a series of “house rules” that people have added over the years.  To speed up monopoly, my family dealt out three properties to each player at the start of the game.  I remember a friend coming over and being both confused and upset with my brother for doing this.  There are certain card games that my husband and I always clarify the rules before playing.  I don’t think either one of us knows what the original rule book actually states.  We just know how we’ve played in the past. 

For a game this practice may be fine, but not with the Word of God.  We must not only learn the rules and directions set forth by the Bible, we must also follow them.  We cannot alter His directions to make things more convenient or to our liking. Throughout generations, these alternate interpretations and additions to the Word of God have led to divisions between believers.  On an individual level, one can try to make God’s Word support a preconceived idea or desire.  The only successful way to operate your life is to take His Word and keep listening until we are following His original directions for you. 

Obedience is the key.  We learn His Word and do what it says. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James1:22 ESV) To avoid deception, we must obey what we hear.  We must do what the Word instructs us to and not do what we think it says.  King Saul learned this the hard way when He did some of what God commanded, but did not follow through with the whole plan. God’s response was not what he expected.   “And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22) God is not pleased when we make up our own rules by adapting what the Bible teaches.  Our good works apart from His leading are not pleasing to Him. 

With these tips in mind, it’s time to get in the game.  Study the Bible, your rule book.  Listen to God’s direction for you.  His voice is so much better than rolling the dice or spinning a wheel. Then start your journey around the board of your “Game of Living in the Wisdom of God.”