The Family That Plays

True confession: we've felt personally convicted for the last several days.  Not because we broke that rule at the poker table in Kansas City -- but because of a little message we heard at church about a big word:

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.... Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. - Romans 12:10, 13 (KJV)

Hospitality in the Bible often seems to refer to inviting people into your home - especially fellow believers.

When it comes to inviting fellow poker players, this can be a bit complicated.  Some people might only drop by for a cash game, where they can win money (and risk breaking local laws).  And to be honest, not that many poker players seem to be firm believers in God and Jesus Christ - firm as in word and action.

But before we heard that message at church, we did something else which might encourage to give a "home poker night" a try.  We went to a "Bonding Through Board Games" event in our city - designed to promote family togetherness by everyone playing together.

Some think board games are a dying tradition, in the era of computer games and "Words With Friends" apps.  This event was designed to bring it back.  There were no card games to play on this night, but we joined a man in a few rounds of "Mexican Train" dominoes.  We won two of the three rounds, but that's really not the point.

An evening of family poker (only using pretend chips, to keep it safe) can promote family togetherness.  And you might be able to use the occasion to provide teachable moments to children:

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

Train them not only in the difference between a straight and a flush - but in the difference between good ethical conduct and bad unethical ways.  In other words, teach what's godly behavior and what is not.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. - II Peter 1:5-7 (KJV)

We admit we haven't done enough to be hospitable toward other people, in terms of opening our home to them.  In fact, we've concluded our living circumstances are so restricted that we might have to a place that's more open to outsiders.

If you pull out a card table or a dining table, you might find better relationships are built -- and opportunities to talk about the ways of God will open.