Life Under God's Grace Isn't a Zero-Sum Game

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Luke 12:22-31

What’s a zero-sum game, you ask? A zero-sum game only has a certain amount of points. Each player competes to win points. The more points one player has, the fewer the other players have. Basketball is not a zero-sum game because each team is allowed to score as many points as they can.

My favorite card game, Sheepshead, is a zero-sum game. There are only 120 points available for each hand. In Sheepshead, both sides compete to see who can win the majority of the points. If a team gets 61 points, there’s no need to keep counting (except to earn bonus points). The winner has already been decided. The other team can’t win more than 59 points. There aren’t any more points available.

From our perspective, we often see life as a zero-sum game. We focus on the limitations of resources and products. If someone else has more money, that means there’s less money out there for me. If I buy a product, that means there’s one fewer product for another. We even apply zero-sum game theory to areas outside of the economy. Basic zero-sum game theory states, “If someone has, someone else does not.”

This leads to constant competition. Competition for resources, products, your place in line, rights, and so on and so forth. But does God see life as a zero-sum game?

First of all, grace is not a zero-sum game. It’s not as though if God forgives the sins of a mass murderer, that sure takes up a lot of grace, there might not be enough grace left to cover my sins. The Bible tells us, “Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given” (John 1:16). There is so much grace, we receive not only more grace than we deserve, but even more grace than we need.

Second of all, God’s love is not a zero-sum game. It’s hard for us to understand. Our love-in-action has a limit. I’ve been a father of two for almost six months now. Though in my heart there’s no limit of love for my children, there is a limit to how much love I can show to my two kids in time spent together, in service to them, etc. If I spend time alone with Nicholas, that’s time I’m not spending with Ava. And not to mention trying to find time for my wife, too.

But God’s love is not limited. It’s not limited by extent. It’s not limited by time. It’s not limited by space. God can and does love all of us. We don’t have to compete for God’s love or attention. “God is love” (1 John 4:16). He has enough love to give to us all.

Third of all, God’s blessings are not a zero-sum game. We tend to see the blessings of life as limited. If someone else has, then I don’t have. Then, we worry. But God does not see things that way. Your Father in heaven knows what you need (Luke 12:30). And he provides for you. He doesn’t worry about where these things will come from. He doesn’t worry that if he provides for you, he won’t be able to provide for someone else. That’s not a problem for God. He is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Life under God is a non-zero-sum game. There is more than enough grace, more than enough love, and more than enough blessings for everyone under his care. Don’t worry how God will figure it all out. He can. He will. He has.

And because he has, you don’t have to treat life as a zero-sum game either. Trusting in God’s infinite love and grace, be gracious and generous with the blessings he gives you. Your Father knows what you need to do so.