Games People Play: Lessons From Monopoly

Craig Finnestad - July 1st, 2007

We all deal with money everyday. What are some transactions that you have had in recent days?

1. Don't buy a hotel; buying three houses is a better option.

1 House = $200

2 Houses = $600

3 Houses = $1400

4 Houses = $1700

Hotel = $2000

Notice the big jump in rent from 2 houses to 3 houses. Notice the less significant jump from 3 houses to 4 houses and 4 houses to a hotel. In Monopoly, you get less value on your investment after you purchase three houses.

What are the disadvantages of buying hotel in Monopoly?

We like hotels in life. What are some hotels (top of the line things that cost lots of money – when simpler and less expensive things will work just as well) that we have in our lives?

The problem with buying a hotel in Monopoly is not being able to invest and develop other properties later in the game. The problem in life with buying “hotels” is not able to respond when there is an opportunity to give, invest, and enjoy.

What are some opportunities you have missed in because you were too busy paying for hotels?

Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. -Matthew 6:19

Why does Jesus tell us not to store up treasures here on earth?

Life isn't about accumulating hotels. Life is about living and part of living is being prepared to give, invest, and enjoy.

Life isn’t about accumulating hotels. Is true for you in the way you spend and invest your money, energy, and time?

It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly. -Henry David Thoreau

What are some ways that we can get lose our preoccupation with possessions?

And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. -1 John 2:17

What have you done today to please God?

What are you going to do tomorrow to please God?

2. Observations from spending time in jail.

What would you imagine that jail is like?

When somebody is in jail, we say that they are paying their debt to society. Financial debt can be “jail” for us. What are we missing when we are in debt?

Give to everyone what you owe them. Owe nothing to anyone-except for your obligation to love one another. -Romans 13:7-8

What is Paul telling us here?

A question to ask before borrowing money: Is this an investment in my future or an expense that is not necessary?

How do you find this question helpful? How is it challenging?

3. Depending on passing "Go" is not a good thing.

In Monopoly is not good to depend on passing Go for survival. In life we call this “living paycheck to paycheck.” That is not good either.

It is also not good to live for accumulation money and possessions.

Why is this not good?

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. -1 Timothy 6:10

What is Paul telling us here?

We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. -Fredrick Keonig

What do you think about the above quotation from Fredrick Keonig?

What are some things that you have that you could do a better job of recognizing and appreciating?

4. Illinois Avenue is better than Boardwalk.

Illinois Avenue is the most landed on and is a good value Boardwalk is one of the least landed on properties and is very expensive.

We like “Boardwalk” in our life. What are the advantages of living an “Illinois Avenue” life?

Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity. -Proverbs 21:5

What two things lead to prosperity?

Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can. -John Wesley

What do you think of Wesley’s quote?

5. Playing Monopoly isn't much fun by yourself.

And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. -Acts 2:44-45

This isn’t socialism; it is charity.

When have you benefited from the charity of others?

When have you given (and benefited in a much different way) to others?

A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit. -Elton Trueblood

What shade trees are you planting?

No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. -Luke 16:13

Which are you serving: God or money?

Think about this: Lust is all GET-Love is all GIVE.

What are you doing: Lusting or Loving? Getting or Giving?

6. Losing a game is better than losing a life.

What is the point of Monopoly?

What is the point of Life?

So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord. -Joshua 24:14-15

When we serve God and not the things God has created – our lives will be revolutionized. Are you prepared to say today: “I will serve the Lord?”