Why Do People Play Games?
My wife thought it would be fun to try a new game. I (with my antisocial self) really didn’t feel like playing, so they asked me to mediate and make sure everyone was following the rules. Well, everyone else was having so much fun that by the end of the night, I had to join in. Even for the most antisocial person, games have their place. But games have absolutely no place in relationships with people.
What does it mean to play games? Playing games includes, but is not limited to, purposefully sending mixed signals, confusing people, and toying with emotions. People play these games in relationships every day. So much so, that most of us assume we are being played in every relationship. The culture we live in now is probably the most game-laden we’ve ever seen. So why do some people play games?
1. To Protect Themselves
As I said before, many people assume that they are being played, or at least will be played. So for the sake of self-preservation, they will start playing games themselves. It keeps them from investing too much emotional stock, and ultimately getting hurt.
2. To Test You
It is quite difficult to find someone who is easily trusting. Some people believe that in order to see how serious that person is about the relationship, it is fair to test others with game-playing. The only problem with this idea is that it usually becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
3.To Maintain Control
Some people aren’t interested in sharing and compromise. These are the ones that live life simply to serve their own interests, so they will play games to keep the upper hand in every relationship.
4. For Sport
These are the people who get a kick out of seeing others squirm, so they play games for the sheer amusement of confusing and hurting other people. These people are dangerous because they will drive you to the emotional edge, watch you throw yourself over, then judge you for falling.
5. For no reason at all
These are the most dangerous ones of all. These are the people who don’t even realize they are playing games. Not only do they confuse others, they easily confuse themselves. These people are usually, in their own mind, the sole victim in every relationship though they routinely play the roles of the other characters listed above interchangeably and erratically.
After encouraging us to eliminate all corrupt communication, the apostle Paul goes on to say, “Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32, The Message). While relational games may seem fun, that fun is only for the moment; because playing will only leave you lonely and lacking.
© 2015 Derek J. Murphy Enterprises/I AM KINGDOM Publishing, All Rights Reserved
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