Five-Figure Decisions

If you followed the Twitter link we posted earlier this week, you know one of our relatives entered the World Series of Poker Main Event.  Sad to say, Ryan Von Bevern was out in less than a day -- but he seems satisfied to know he's now done that once in his life.

We mentioned his entry at a live tournament we played Monday night, and brought up the "bucket list" idea: make a list of things you want to do before you die, then do them.  To play in the Main Event requires a large investment -- a $10,000 buy-in (unless you qualify another way), plus paying for the trip to Las Vegas and everything related to that.

The husband of one of our nieces apparently can afford that.  At this point, we cannot.  Ryan chose to try top-level WSOP action (well, except for that million-dollar buy-in game).  We choose to skip it.  And that makes even entering a poker tournament a lot like playing the game itself -- a matter of choices, right or wrong.

If you play long enough, you'll have moments when your choices in a hand look brilliant -- and other moments when opponents are right to brand you a "donkey."  And in poker, there's no one to coach you when a hand is in progress; even in free tournaments, that's considered cheating.  When it comes to the biggest decisions of our lives, some guidance can be very helpful -- and God offers some:

Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. - Proverbs 8:10-11

We can be instructed by reading God's guidebook, the Bible.  You might even find nuggets of knowledge there which help you play better poker; we offer some of them here from time to time.  But there's a bigger issue at stake....

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.  Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.... - Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Choosing to walk God's way and do His will (John 7:17) is a path leading to eternal life....

To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. - Revelation 3:21

And here's the thing about eternal life -- you'll be able to do everything you ever dreamed of putting on a "bucket list," as long as it's not sinful.  That's why we don't have a personal list at the moment.  We choose to follow God now, in the hope of receiving an incredible payoff later.