Chapter 2 - Keeping Score by Paul Lyda

WHEN THE GAME IS OVER IT ALL GOES BACK IN THE BOX

The Set up: Keeping Score

In his chapter on Keeping Score, John Ortberg acknowledges our natural tendency to keep score - not just with games, but with life - and challenges us to reconsider the futility of our scorekeeping approach to faith.

The line that stood out to me was this: "The problem with spending your life climbing up the ladder is that you will go right past Jesus, for he's coming down." (p.45)

Since keeping score is typically all about figuring out who is leading or winning the game, a life devoted to giving ourselves in loving service to others is often dismissed as being weak. However, God, in Jesus, introduces another way to "keep score" by turning the whole things upside down. You see, in his leaving heaven to come down to us and humbling himself by becoming a servant and then being obedient to death - even death on a cross, Jesus was modeling another way of being in relationship with others. (Philippians 2:5-11) To do what Jesus did takes strength, not weakness; it takes being courageous, not being fearful.

Jesus wasn't just looking out for himself; it wasn't about him winning for the sake of being the best, but to redeem the world - to save us - because we couldn't do it on our own. Jesus came down to bring heaven to us..."once for all." And because of his life, death and resurrection, we are made more than conquerors. Ultimately, we are winners because of Jesus' victory over sin and death, and not our own best efforts

In light of this new approach to keeping score, what are some ways we can "live to give," instead of "living to get?" Is it possible to turn our acts of service into just another form of scorekeeping and end up right back in the same mess? Should the risk of getting it wrong ever stop us from following after Jesus and trying to live in love? Or, should the fact that what matters most is God's grace and redeeming love change the score?

Whatever your "game" experience has been in life, we'd love to hear about how God's new approach to keeping score is at work in your life.