Lessons from Monopoly Deal

1. Play the hand you actually have, not the hand you want to have.

Don't base your play on getting that elusive deal breaker. It may never come.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

"People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." - 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NIV)

2. Play the hand you actually have, not the hand you used to have.

Don't dwell on the cards you've played wrongly or look back on the past with regrets. Believe that everything happens for a reason and move on.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 (NIV)

3. Play your hand to the best of your ability.

Sometimes you lose to a better player or a better hand. That's life. What's important is that you've tried your best. I would rather try my best and lose than not try my best and win. If your best is not good enough, it's not meant to be.

"Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you represents determinism; the way you play it is free will." - Jawaharlal Nehru, First Prime Minister of India (1947-1964)

We are judged on what we do with what we have, not on what we can't do with what we don't have.

"For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." - 2 Corinthians 8:12 (NIV)