Thank you Jesus.
You see, earlier today, I had the opportunity to speak with a friend, and we had a pretty interesting conversation revolved around a topic where many a time I have indulged myself in since I was about four or five.
Video games.
Video games first captivated my attention as a boy and instilled in me a vast desire to want to leap into myriads of different worlds and embark on copious adventures that would lead me to not only endless amounts of treasures and glory, but to what seemed to be infinite amounts of fun.
As I grew older however, this quickly became a stumbling block.
At one point something that was simply intended to entertain became an investment of not only my time, but of my finances as well.
As a result, not only did my relationships with my family and friends suffer, but the importance of being immersed into virtual reality began to take priority over actual reality.
The amount of money that I freely and willingly poured into these games not only began to diminish the amount of funds I had worked so hard to earn, but I was also funding the very thing that was causing me to waste my time and destroy my relationships in the first place.
I was so focused on gaining levels in a game because it gave me some sort of feeling of achievement, that I wasn't hitting any such mark or achievement in real life.
Fortunately, the Lord has since freed me from this over the last few months and I have been able to invest the better portion of my time and the better portion of my finances in ways that could honor God; and even more than that, repair the relationships with my family and friends.
Now, back to the God given conversation.
Though I may have a relationship with Christ, not all of my friends do. With this being said, being mindful of what one says and when we say them during certain moments is very important.
I thought that instead of completely summarizing the conversation my friend and I had, that I would simply quote it all for you us to read through together. (For the record I did ask him before doing this. Bet he sure would have been surprised if I hadn't)
Friend: “Well Godfrey, I suck. I said I wouldn't do it. I tried for so long to not do it. I just have a problem, and the first step is admitting it, but I have admitted it over and over again.
Over the last three months I've spent like $2,500 on NX... (In game virtual currency)
I don't even know why. What do I have to show for it?”
Me: “Wow. That's a lot.”
Friend: “It may as well be $1,000,000 considering I don't have a job, and have student loan debt.”
Me: “And you got absolutely nothing? Which isn't the point, but what are you going to do?”
Friend: “I mean I have virtual clothing and pets... =___= I just suck.”
Me: “Well, I'm glad you learned something, but what are you going to do now?”
Friend: “I just have to not spend and try to still play. They (video game Company) just make it so hard in this game.”
Me: “Okay that sounds like a plan, though tempting yourself by playing may be an issue. But whatever you think is best. Just don't lengthen that debt.”
Friend: “You need to grind (the process of engaging in repetitive tasks to achieve something) for 2 months to get the gold AND materials that you need to MAKE your swords...You have to farm for another week to get your enchant PREFIX and SUFFIX.
You enchant the weapon, you need to use the scroll and your weapon. If you want that scroll to NOT blow up your weapon(small percentage that scroll will fail and you will lose weapon/item) you need to buy a $8.90(Dollars, real life currency) rune that is one time use, once for EACH enchant, which can STILL FAIL.
Got both your enchants on? Good. You have about a 33% chance for them to EACH work so if you got that far, you would think you're golden right?
NOPE.
Then you need to enhance the QUALITY of your weapons. +1, +2, +3 are "safe", but +4-8 you have a chance where your weapon will explode: 44%, 9-10 you can still use runes on, to protect them ($8.90 a pop, no guarantee that they will WORK) then from 10-15 you have a 10%, 5%, 2% chance they will succeed and you can't protect them.
You need AT LEAST a +10 weapon to be considered "okay"for raiding.
And all that alone is for your WEAPON.
Now you have to repeat the process with Helm, Chest, Pants, Gloves, Boots, Ring, Ring(Two ring slots), Earing, Shoulder, Belt, Necklace, Badge, Bracelet.”
Me: “Do you remember the conversation we had about why I stopped playing games other than not having much time?”
Friend: “Yeah :C”
Me: “Okay.
Video game Company’s especially mmo's (massive multiplayer online games) and rpg’s (role playing games) are, above all, a business.
They will do whatever they can to entice you into getting engrossed into their game, and then once you start getting the hang of it, in order to get "good" you have to follow "their" 10 easy steps (any number I just made ten up) on how to be the best.
At first it's easy. Just level up and get good gear. But in order to get 'the best gear' you have to spend a little money at the 'beginning' you know, just so your weapon won't blow up. Once your weapon ‘survives’ the transition. Then it has to go through another trial. Except this time you have to spend even more money, and there is still a chance that it will fail.
This is how they get you.
It's like the lottery. You get something good once, maybe, and once you do, they (Video game companies) try and get you to spend more and more, meanwhile you’re over there hoping that you get a similar result to the one you had last. Except once you reach those results, if indeed you do, it doesn't feel like you've won, simply because it cost you a whole lot of "real world money" to get there.
As much as we wish the virtual world was real sometimes, we live in the real world.
I'm not saying that spending is bad or that video games are bad, but when a game is asking and telling and demanding that we spend real world money until we reach a certain point of being good at any game, yet they set up so many snares to ensure that we fail in order that we have to spend more time and in turn more money in their game, that is more of them doing business than us having fun.
That's how I feel about events. (In game events).
‘For two days only!’
‘Limited edition plate skirt!’(I don't know, just made something up. Good example about how the limited edition thing is never worth it though)
You ‘just’ have to play for 44 hours and spend x amount of real life currency! If you don't live in America it's okay! We have currency exchange! That way everyone gets what they want! (Especially the video game companies getting us more addicted to their game that will hopefully get us to continue to throw our money at them.
It's just a ‘game’ to them. (Ironic)
They want you to have fun, so you can play and enjoy the game in order for you to advertise it to as many people as you can. Then once you all are having fun together, you can spend money together and justify the spending together! Then the cycle repeats and they continue to get rich off us and our friends. Sounds fun right?
‘Definitely worth it.’
‘Or… Or, you can just play 47.9 hours and get it for free! But that won't ensure that you'll get it! So enter your credit card information here!’
Games are fun and all, but I've learned to stop letting those companies control my life.
Playing every once and a while is fine, but not to the point where I feel worse off than before, broke, and not really getting anything done in real life.”
Friend: “Yeah, and I agree with you on ALL of that but I have made video games my life and it's all I know.”
Me: “Well I'm not asking you to quit, but I do think it's wise that you either play another game that demands less of your wallet and maybe even less of your time or just take a break altogether and try something else.
It depends on you though.
It's tough, but the only way things will change is if you want them to.”
Friend: “Truth Yo.
THANKS FOR LETTING ME RANT AT YOU AND GIVING ME VIABLE FEEDBACK <3"
Me: “Anytime sir. Literally. If you need anything. Just let me know.”
Now, I could have picked up the bible and thrown a whole bunch of verses at him about being a good steward of his money, and how we aren't tempted beyond our ability, but that would not have helped him. He wasn't asking for advice, he wasn't asking for my opinion, he wasn't asking for scripture, he just wanted me to listen.
Many times, this is the hardest thing for me.
I’m a man. Men like to fix things. Whether it’s as complex as trying to remedy a situation with women (HA, good luck with that one) or taping up a piece of paper, we like to make things better.
Unfortunately wanting to makes things better does not insure that things would end that way.
If I would have approached this situation differently, and recited bible verses to him instead of giving him my attention and sincerely showing that I care for him; not only would I have come off as the furthest thing from demonstrating those things, but his views of not only me, but more importantly of God may have changed as well.
In first John Chapter three verse eighteen reads,
“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions” (New Living Translation. 1Jn. 3.18).
There was a saying that I’ve heard a few years back, and I heard it during a time that I was struggling with how to minister to people, especially those close to me.
“Your life maybe the only bible someone ever reads.”
Perhaps there are given circumstances that require deep scripture and biblical study, but we don’t always have to get all theological to be able to minister to someone.
Sometimes ministering to someone is as simple as giving someone a bit of your time and listening to what they have to say.
Strengthening the relationships in our lives will in themselves become open doors and as a result, showing Christ through our lives will eventually lead to speaking about Him to others.
So today, if I may, I want to tell you two things.
First, if there is anything hindering you from “living a life worthy of the calling that you have received” (Ephesians 4:1) stop trying to gain levels in that area of your life. Stop investing your time and your money and your emotions into things that are not edifying you are those around you. Your life, the lives of your friends, your wallet and your emotions will thank you greatly.
Secondly, don’t allow your focus to solely be on trying to minister to someone, because “Sometimes we are so busying trying to do ministry, that we are ‘too busy’ to do ministry.” Be there for people. Listen to them. Demonstrate God’s love, and those actions will minister to others on their own.
“Let all that you do be done in love”
(English Standard Version.1Co.16:14)
