My Musings – Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? It was a crazy popular game show for awhile. There were levels (questions to answer) you had to work (win) your way up, in order to win the million. Each level more difficult than the one before. If you got stumped, you had ” lifelines” you could use for help. But use them wisely, because you want to save all you can for the more difficult questions. Answer incorrectly, and you could lose some of what you had already won. Remember?
Just for the fun of it once, I came up with a version of the game called “Who Want’s To Be A Millennium Heir?” that I used for a “final exam” in my adult Sunday School class. It went like this.
MILLENNIUM “HEIR MILE” REWARDS
7 MILLENNIUM HEIR
6 GOLD
5 SILVER
4 COSTLY STONES
3 WOOD
2 HAY
1 STRAW
0 FOUNDATION
“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Corinthians 3:11-15, NIV 1978)
MILLENNIUM HEIR RULES
1. You must build upon the foundation – Jesus Christ.
2. If you don’t build upon this foundation, it won’t matter how many “heir miles” your works might otherwise earn you. You can never earn your way to becoming a millennium heir.
3. Each time you answer correctly, your “good works” will advance you to the next “heir mile” reward.
4. If you answer incorrectly the quality of all “heir miles” earned will be tested by fire. For some you may suffer loss. Some may survive and you will receive those rewards.
5. However, even if you suffer the loss of all of your “heir miles” you are still a millennium heir if you built on the foundation Jesus Christ.
MILLENNIUM HEIR LIFELINES
Fellowship – With this lifeline you may poll the “audience,” (the Sunday School class) for their input.
“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews10:25, NIV 1978).
Prayer – With this lifeline you can phone “home” for guidance. In answer to your “prayer”, you gain discernment (as moderator I took away two wrong answers).
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7, NIV 1984).
The Word – With this lifeline you can look up your answer in the Scriptures (better bring your Bible to class).
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12, NIV 1978).
Accountability – With this lifeline you may ask a fellow-believer (select a class member) for their help.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17, NIV 1984).
We had fun with it (well, at least I did). Here is a sample of one “game” of Millennium Heir we played.
Foundation Question
According to Ephesians 2:8&9, salvation is obtained by what?
A. Good Works.
B. Grace.
C. Wealth.
D. Accident.
Straw Question
The tenth commandment, found in Exodus 20:17 is?
A. Thou shalt not talk out loud in a convent.
B. Thou shalt not convict without two or three witnesses.
C. Thou shalt not covet.
D. Irrelevant.
Hay Question
According to 1 Timothy 6:10, what is the root of all evil?
A. Gingivitis.
B. Money.
C. The ACLU.
D. The love of money.
Wood Question
A fundamental point about wealth in the parable of the rich fool is?
A. It should be hoarded, because we never know when we’ll need it.
B. It should be wasted, there is more where that came from, God has deep pockets.
C. It should be spent on pleasure and comfort. Eat, drink and be merry.
D. Material possessions cannot provide real or lasting security.
Costly Stones Question
In the parable of the sower, found in Matthew 13, greed is represented by which seed?
A. Seed sown along the path.
B. Seed sown in rocky places.
C. Seed sown amongst thorns.
D. Seed sown on good soil.
Silver Question
The parable of the rich fool teaches?
A. Nothing, it’s just for entertainment.
B. We must be careful about our attitudes concerning God’s blessings.
C. All rich people are evil.
D. Remodeling old barns is hazardous to your health.
Gold Question
The proper response to material blessings is?
A. I want more.
B. Be thankful and be a good steward.
C. I’ll keep them all to myself.
D. Now I have all that I need to be happy.
Millennium Heir Question
In the parable the rich fool’s responses to material blessings was?
A. Right on target.
B. The real problem.
C. A symptom of an underlying problem.
D. His final answer.
My Advice – Okay, so the game is a bit corny. But it makes several key points. The “game” we are playing in this life is really “The Game of Life.” What happens in this life determines whether we become a millennium heir. We must accept Christ as Savior. That’s foundational. If we don’t get that right, we will go directly to hell, we will not pass the pearly gates, we will not collect eternal life. There is no get out of hell free card. Christ it the only way, meaning He has the “Monopoly.” Take the chance, you won’t be “Sorry.”
The Brew Is A Musing 