When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box

by John Ortberg

Remember the thrill of winning at checkers or Parcheesi? You become the Master of the Board—the victor over everyone else. But what happens after that, asks bestselling author John Ortberg. You know the answer: It all goes back in the box. You don’t get to keep one token, one chip, one game card. In the end, the spoils of the game add up to nothing. Using popular games as a metaphor for our temporal lives, When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box neatly sorts out what’s fleeting and what’s permanent in God’s kingdom. Being Master of the Board is not the point; being rich toward God is. Winning the game of life on Earth is a temporary victory; loving God and other people with all our hearts is an eternal one. Using humor, terrific stories, and a focus on winning “the right trophies,” Ortberg paints a vivid picture of the priorities that all Christians will want to embrace.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Christianity, Faith, Inspirational, Religion

256 pages, Hardcover

First published July 30, 2007

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very powerful book for such a short and easy read. My only beef with it is I thought he was a little bit too dismissive of the concerns we have here on earth. He does say we should help others, but to totally deny ourselves to do so is setting us up for burnout. Not all of us are Mother Theresa. And I do think taking care of your body is important. It’s the tool we use to do God’s work. I know it’s a somewhat shallow concern, but feeling good allows us to do more for others. Nevertheless, this is a life-changing book.

[Tim Chavel · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Ortberg is becoming one of my favorite authors. A friend, Butch Hicks, recommended this wonderful book. John relates the Christian life to playing a game. When he was small John used to play board games with his grandmother. He learned a lot more than just how to play a board game, he also learned how to live life. As you will learn through his quotes below his grandmother had lots of wisdom. I trust you will enjoy reading quotes from his book!

Pawn and king alike, they all go back in the bag. ~Ancient Italian Proverb

Wherefore play the game of life warily, for your opponent is full of subtlety, and take abundant thought over your moves, for the stake is your soul! ~anonymous

This is our predicament. Over and over again, we lose sight of what is important and what isn’t. ~Epictetus

The biggest lesson life has to teach is the absolute necessity of arranging our life around what matters in light of our mortality and eternity. ~John Ortberg

When the game is over, it all goes back in the box. ~John Ortberg

To me, if life boils down to one significant thing, it’s movement. To live is to keep moving. Unfortunately, this means that for the rest of our lives we’re going to be looking for boxes.

When you’re moving, your whole world is boxes. That’s all you think about. “Boxes, where are the boxes?” You just wander down the street going in and out of stores, “Are there boxes here? Have you seen any boxes?” It’s all you think about.

You could be at a funeral, everyone around you is mourning, crying, and you’re looking at the casket. “That’s a nice box. Does anybody know where that guy got that box? When he’s done with it, you think I could get it? It’s got some nice handles on it. My stereo would fit right in there.”

I mean that’s what death is, really – the last big move of your life. The hearse is like the van, the pallbearers are your close friends, the only ones you could really ask to help you with a big move like that. And the casket is that great, perfect box you’ve been looking for your whole life. ~Comedian Jerry Seinfeld

Then one day it stops. For you, the game is over. Did you play wisely? ~John Ortberg

The Talmud teaches that every person should fully repent one day before death. When a visitor asked, “But how will I know when that day is?” He was told: “Treat every day as it were the day before your last.” Arrange your life around what matters most. Starting today. The box will wait. ~John Ortberg

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. ~Dave Toycen

“He looks so peaceful.” Rigor mortis will do that. Death is nature’s way of telling you to slow down. They ask the same foolish question people ask when somebody rich dies: “I wonder how much he left.” He left it all. Everybody always leaves it all. ~John Ortberg

You can be rich toward God. Your life – with God’s help – can be a source of pleasure to the God of the universe. You can make God smile. ~John Ortberg

When the game is over, all that will matter will be God’s assessment of our lives. John Ortberg

Being rich toward God means growing a soul that is increasingly healthy and good. ~John Ortberg

Being rich toward God means loving and enjoying the people around you. ~John Ortberg

Being rich toward God means learning about your gifts and passions and doing good work to help improve the world. ~John Ortberg

Being rich toward God means becoming generous with your stuff. ~John Ortberg

Being rich toward God means making that which is temporary become the servant of that which is eternal. ~John Ortberg

Being rich toward God means savoring every roll of the dice and every trip around the board. ~John Ortberg

Being rich toward God begins with giving to God that which He desires most of all. And what He desires most from you is you – your heart and devotion. Just as God can give us many gifts but the best gift is Himself, so we can offer God our resources and acts of service, but the gift He desires most is us. ~John Ortberg

The reason God created people is so He could be with us. ~John Ortberg

Love is a by-product of knowing. ~John Ortberg

In the West, you measure a man’s wealth by his possessions. In this country, we measure his wealth by his friends. ~A man from Ethiopia

One of the main reasons we are tempted to get more invested in our work than in our relationships is that in our vocations it’s easier to keep score. ~John Ortberg

But how can we track the well-being of the part of us that will last? This may look a little different for everyone, but there are a few mirrors and scales that we all will probably need:
• Self-examination and confession
• Friends who love you enough to speak truth to you
• Time to be alone and listen to God
• Examination of your calendar and checkbook
• Key questions, such as: How easy discouraged do I get these days? How easily irritated am I compared to six months ago?
• Attention to your secret thought life. What is your mind drawn toward – really? Where do envy or blaming or judging or lusting rob your inner person of life and joy? ~John Ortberg

Spend as much time caring for the inner you as you send on the outer you. ~John Ortberg

Caesar thought his throne in Rome was secure. But the kingdom was lying in a manger in Bethlehem. ~John Ortberg

Surrender is not passivity or abdication. It is saying yes to God and life each day. It is accepting the gifts he has given me – my body, my mind, my biorhythms, my energy. It is letting go of my envy or desire for what He has given someone else. It is letting go of outcomes that in reality I cannot accept anyway. I surrender my ambitions, my dreams, my money, my relationships, my marital status, my time, and my desires to God. ~John Ortberg

When I try to control something too tightly based on my own little ideas, I miss all the creativity and serendipity of life. ~John Ortberg

If you think you have free rein over things that are naturally beyond your control, or if you attempt to adopt the affairs of others as your own, your purpose will be thwarted and you will become a frustrated, anxious, and faultfinding person. ~Epictetus

Jesus taught that we should speak truth without using words to manipulate, intimidate, deceive, or flatter. ~John Ortberg

Jesus taught many times about this strange truth that power comes to us not when we seek control but when we freely yield our little centers of control to God. He said that if a grain of wheat remains alone, it bears no fruit, but if it is placed in the ground and dies, then it lives. He said that if we deny ourselves, we are fulfilled. He said that if we seek to save our lives, we lose them, but when we lose them for His sake, we come alive. ~John Ortberg

We actually receive greater power by surrendering … There is only so much that willpower can accomplish. ~John Ortberg

Everyone must carry two pieces of paper with him and look at them every day. On one it is written: “You are as dust and ashes.” And on the other: “For you the universe was created.” ~Rabbinic Saying

A game is at its heart the creation of a challenge against which one tests oneself. What makes a good game, he argues, is that it embodies well-crafted problems. And it is in the owning and embracing of the problem that players are able to grow in what the Greek Olympians called arête: excellence of will and character. ~Bernard Suits

God has given to you a tiny measure of what he has without limit – the ability to choose. Psychologists use words like initiative or being proactive or taking responsibility. But these are not just psychological concepts. They are deeply connected to what it means to be made in the image of God. ~John Ortberg

In nursing homes, such trivial choices as getting to decide when to see a movie or how to arrange their rooms made seniors’ health and emotional well-being improve and the death rate drop. Daniel flourished because even in exile he refused to believe he was helpless. ~John Ortberg

Smart players are clear on what lasts and what doesn’t. It is wise to store up treasure in what’s eternal: God and people. ~John Ortberg

It’s not that such treasures are bad. It’s that they won’t last long. It’s all going back in the box. ~John Ortberg

When we give casually, we receive casual joy. When we effortfully, thoughtfully, creatively, we get immense joy. ~John Ortberg

Richness of having usually means getting more stuff; richness of being is generally associated with giving more stuff. Jesus’ goal of “richness toward God” always involves richness of being. ~John Ortberg

I’ll do it someday, I tell myself, when my life is not so full. And then the day is gone. ~John Ortberg

Creeping commitments are the crabgrass on the lawn of life. They multiply without our permission or even our awareness. ~John Ortberg

Our truth is certain: time will not slow down, and we will never be able to redo yesterday. ~John Ortberg

The journey to integrity requires the cultivation of a desire: I must want to be good more than I want to do well. It requires a decision: I will choose to play with integrity and lose rather than cheat and win. It requires a belief: I cannot succeed in what I do and fail in who I am. ~John Ortberg

Developing a reputation for integrity is not the same as having it. ~John Ortberg

In a strict sense, I cannot break the rules. They endure, for they reflect the way things are. I can only break myself against them. ~John Ortberg

Integrity is much bigger than simply avoiding breaking the rules. It is becoming the kind of person who does the right thing. Integrity does not mean I get really good at not doing the things I really want to do. It is not using lots of willpower to override my desires. It means I become the kind of person who actually wants to do what is right. ~John Ortberg

My problem is not just my lack of character; it is that I can’t even see how badly I lack it. ~John Ortberg

The way back home for rule breakers is the way of grace through repentance. ~John Ortberg

If you wait for days to get easier before you get around to what matters, you may wait a long time. ~John Ortberg

If the devil cannot make you bad, he will make you busy. Either way you miss out on the life God intended for you to lead. ~John Ortberg

Here’s the radical idea: take the jar that is your life, and empty out all the sand. Start your day with an empty jar. ~John Ortberg

God never gives anyone too much to do. ~John Ortberg

Boredom ought to be one of the seven deadly sins. ~Frederick Buechner

That little amoeba had no stress, no problems, no challenges. Know what happened to it? It died. Too much comfort is lethal. ~John Ortberg

Whether it’s a special assignment or just living in a fallen world, people all the time are given burdens they cannot handle. ~John Ortberg

When God calls people to do something, their initial response is almost always fear. If there is a challenge in front of you, a course of action that could cause you to grow and that would be helpful to people around you, but you find yourself scared about it, there’s a real good chance that God is in that challenge. Take it a step further. If you’re not facing any challenges too big for you, if it has been a while since you have felt scared, there’s a real good chance that you’ve been sitting in the chair too long. ~John Ortberg

What really matters when God calls you to do something is not whether or not you feel inadequate. Of course you will; you are inadequate. So am I. That’s why God promises to go with us. What matters is your decision. Only people who say yes to challenge, demand, and risk are ever fully alive. ~John Ortberg

Where proof is possible, faith is impossible. ~John Ortberg

We would all like to be people of faith, but we would prefer a guarantee up front. ~John Ortberg

Gratitude is the ability to experience life as a gift. It opens us up to wonder, delight, and humility. It makes our hearts generous. It liberates from the prison of self-preoccupation. ~John Ortberg

Having too much can make a person ungrateful. ~John Ortberg

Sometimes we do not realize how much we have to be grateful for until it is threatened. ~John Ortberg

Our souls need to be fed, just as our bodies do. Bodies are fed by protein and carbs; souls are fed by words. What people need from us the most is not more information. They just need words that will feed their souls. Sometimes words as simple as “thank you” or “I hope you have a really good day” can feed a soul. ~John Ortberg

Sometimes we’re tempted to think that our current position/job/situation is a barrier to our mission, but in fact it is where it starts. ~John Ortberg

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth.”

Salt’s calling is to lose itself in something much bigger and more glorious; and then it fulfills its destiny. We were made to count. We were made to be salt. ~John Ortberg

If I do it by myself for myself, it’s death. If I do it with God for others, it’s life, because whatever I do with God for others does not go back in the box. ~John Ortberg

Sometimes people think they are robbed of any chance at having a significant mission in life because of their weaknesses. In fact, the opposite is true. God never wastes a hurt. Part of what makes a human life most powerful is the struggle. ~John Ortberg

If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Esther had no idea what the future would hold for her. Neither do you or I. ~John Ortberg

What is your position? Maybe it involves your job, your marriage, your tasks as a parent, or your friendships. Maybe your position includes going to school. Maybe it involves the neighborhood where you live, or volunteering, or your church. One thing is for sure: this is your time. Not some other situation. Not tomorrow or yesterday. We are often tempted to think that we are treading water right now, waiting for some other time, some more important position. You don’t get to choose your time; your time chooses you. You are what and who you are for a reason. ~John Ortberg

We play games to win. But merely winning doesn’t mean we have always achieved this inner excellence, and losing doesn’t mean we have neglected it. There is a score inside us, a measure of determination and heart and courage under pressure that matters more than the points on the board. Winning and losing apart from this inner score do not matter much. We play games to test ourselves. ~John Ortberg

Competitive greatness is a love for the battle, because it is in the struggle and the challenge that you are offered the opportunity to be your best when your best is required. ~John Ortberg

Men have succeeded in accumulating a greater mass of objects, but the joy in the world has grown less. ~Fyodor Dostoyevsky

That’s the world in which we live: we sell what nobody needs. But the problem of the human heart is: we need what nobody sells. ~John Ortberg

Contentment does not come when we acquire enough. It is a product of the way we think. ~John Ortberg

A pastor wants his church to change in ways that the people do not embrace. He wants it to look like his ideal of what a church should look like. Mostly this means he wants it to look big. But people sense that his desire has more to do with his ego than anything else. So they vote no in a hundred subtle ways. Still, he cannot bring himself to admit the truth. So he preaches angry sermons that chastise them for not following his leadership. He tries to pressure the elders. He threatens, he whines, he manipulates. Eventually the elders ask him to leave the church. Because he cannot lose and learn from his losses, he loses everything. ~John Ortberg

I recommend this book to everyone!

[Harriet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was in line to be a 5 star read, however I felt I had to dock a star as I do feel like it requires a bit of discernment when reading - it quotes someone slightly questionable and also isn’t necessarily the most biblically grounded book. That aside, I did really really enjoy it. It uses playing a game as a metaphor for the Christian life and it did cause me to think about my life, how I use my time etc. Definitely thought-provoking and would want to read again. Also didn’t realise John Ortberg is a psychologist and loved seeing him apply psychology models in a Christian way! Was not expecting so many references to Martin Seligman in a Christian book but Loved It.

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent read. It continually puts life on earth in perspective and encourages you to "play the game of life well." I think I read an old version though because there seems to be an extra five chapters that I didn't get...

[Grayson Markle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid, contemplative read, exploring the tension of living in the vaporous moment, while also in the twilight hues of eternity to come.

[Evghenii · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book to consider priorities in life. The presentation is very creative and speaks to one reality. Should be useful to a Christian looking for a change in life. No matter the age, one will find it thought provoking. Reccomend.

[Kelsey Grissom · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I read this book because I kept hearing quotations from it. This is not Ortberg’s finest, largely because it’s a little scattered in its focus, but I still found myself highlighting large portions of it. As usual, Ortberg brings his dad jokes, his humility at just the right moment (when so many male preacher-authors seem to be totally without humility), and a killer closing sentence to every argument. Maybe I should have given it four stars.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great read and was really challenging. I love the way that Ortberg uses stories to put across this point. I love the factual information. I love the visual piece that’s all of the pieces go back in the box at the end. The challenge of how we all live our lives and what we will prioritise and what is important. A good inspiring read to make changes in my day-to-day life.

[Lisa Horne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read! Every Christian should read this book to understand what is really important.

[Dkovlak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book. It has a lot of funny stories in it. The author does a good job of getting the point across. The idea is that when the game of life is over we can take nothing with us. Therefore, we should spend our time, talents, and possessions on things that have eternal consequences not temporary consequences. (Invest in people not STUFF.)

Life is short, so we should make the best of the time we have on earth. Be generous. Don't hold grudges. Love your neighbor. Play fair. Be a gracious winner and be a gracious loser. Find your mission in life.

This is an excellent group book study. You can also get it with training DVDs and workbooks.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ortberg is always a treat. He isn't extremely deep theologically, but he does give some great ideas for sermon illustrations. He is also very entertaining while being a super devotional writer. This title appealed to me because of my daughter-in-law Amy, who loves to play board games. I listened to the Audible version and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The author emphasizes a Divine perspective on life, stressing the value of eternal things rather than temporal things. He does it in a unique, upbeat way. It's a very good read (or as in my case, a very good listen).

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best religious book I have read this year. The author tells the story of playing board games (mainly Monopoly) with his grandmother. Then the entire book breaks down the various parts of playing games and relates it to our spiritual lives. The book is filled with stories that relate to what is being discussed. I loved this book and highly recommend it.

[Carole Key · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book that you can pickup and put down between reads. It really made me think about the way that I view things and my own mortality. In a world that seems to be caught up in mindfulness, this book hits the spot. Wether you have faith or not, When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box, helps one to get things into perspective, and live life to the full.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining, humorous, and informative, John Ortberg delivers another winner with this book. He'll have you laughing...but he'll also challenge your thinking. This one is definitely worth reading for all Christians.

[Daniel Stitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Ortberg’s When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box offers a sobering reminder about the fleeting nature of earthly accomplishments. The central analogy—that life is like a board game, and when it’s over, all the pieces go back in the box—strikes a powerful chord. It’s a metaphor that lingers, especially in a culture obsessed with keeping score.

One of the most memorable lines from the book—“The trophy that matters is not the one on our shelves or resumes. It is the soul that we become.”—gets at the heart of Ortberg’s message. It’s a needed critique of the hollow trophies of secular success, and I appreciated his willingness to challenge those illusions head-on.

However, once the metaphor is introduced and the cultural critique is made, the book settles into familiar territory. Ortberg draws heavily on the usual cast of biblical figures—Moses, David, Jesus, Paul—without offering much in the way of fresh insight or new interpretations. While his writing is sincere and accessible, much of the content felt like textbook Christianity, circling the same well-worn mantra: don’t waste your life.

The book’s greatest strength—its analogy—also becomes its limitation. Beyond the opening chapters, there’s not much in terms of concrete strategies for how to live a “soul-rich” life. Readers looking for deeper theological reflection or innovative spiritual practices may come away underwhelmed. In some ways, the tone and structure feel a bit dated, and by the end, I was left wishing the book had taken more risks or gone further.

Overall, When the Game Is Over is a quick and convicting read with a few standout moments, but it doesn’t quite deliver on the depth or originality it hints at early on.

[Jane Riordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a re-read for me and, having now completed it, I am wondering why I left it so long before I picked it up again.

Full of practical wisdom about living life well, fairly and how a Kingdom perspective can positively affect the way we act towards others and the decisions we make for ourselves.

John Ortberg uses the analogy of a board game to push the point that 'when the game is over, it all goes back in the box'; how we live in such a temporary state compared to the eternity of God's kingdom and that keeping this in mind is essential to ensure that we live life to the full, whilst maintaining good priorities and relationships.

This is a very easy read, peppered with stories, particularly of his beloved grandmother, a keen, mean game player who didn't necessarily believe in letting the grandchildren win.

[Cat Rayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleaning out my Kindle I found this book. In a little under three hours I read the book again. Ok, I skimmed through an settled on occasion on my highlights.

Ortberg always has a clever way to subtly draw a notion to make you think. “When the Game is Over…” uses the simplest analogy and hits home with clarity. About our life goals, our mortality, our need for God.

In the end we all end up in the same place with those well accomplished and those not. How we “play” determines the next game in eternity.

Ultimately “be rich toward God” and things will play out to the win you truly desire. (Hint: it’s not riches and fame)

[Evan DeWard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there was a star beyond five that I could give this book or a check box that says that this is a contender for one of my favorite books of all time. I can't overemphasize how amazing this book is. The metaphor of the game is a brilliant illustration for life. Some chapters, like "Be the kind of player people sit next to" and "Play with gratitude" were some of my favorites. We don't talk about this stuff enough and John Ortberg did an incredible job writing it. His constant examples were so intruiging. I am deeply infatuated with this book and I will be raving about it for days.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book that uses a game as a metaphor for life. This is written from a Christian viewpoint so the prize is eternal life in heaven. The author reminds people to focus on what is important, God and each other, rather than material things. I found the book to be a good reminder of things I already know.

[Kirk Weikart · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always, Ortberg produces a witty and colorful gem, complete with cogent spiritual advice. Although he carefully plots an organized course, I was never able to discern any thread that strung through the whole book. The title suggests a theme that will be returned to throughout the book, but it seemed more like a parable that served only a single point.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book about re-evaluating your life's priorities and deciding if what you're doing is the right thing. The idea of a "shadow purpose" and "real purpose" was really enlightening -- shadow meaning if someone gave you infinite money, what you would want to do, and real purpose meaning what you would be willing to die for. And not everyone has a real purpose!

[Jean Schram · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's kind of a Christian version of Suze Orman's, "People first, then money, then things," but with the placement of God before all of the other things. Lots of anecdotes to stretch that into book length.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. Is this new material? Not for someone that reads Christian literature regularly. But I like to be reminded to pause and think of what's really important. And I think there is value in getting this message from different points if view.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

John has a way of writing (and speaking) that is light, and often comical, but very honest and relatable. There were a lot of anecdotes of many different people that were illustrative of the points he was trying to make, and they really make you think about what's truly important in this life.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book that God placed in my hands at just the right time as I am making some major life decisions. Ortberg can be humorous and surprising. Chapters were short with just the right mix of scripture, stories and application. Helped refocus me on the reality of the Christian life and the choices we make during our short lives.

[Barbara LeBlanc · Rating 5 out of 5]

So relatable!

We can all relate to the board game analogy since we have played them as youth, especially Monopoly. I really enjoyed his humorous, but practical approach to explaining life's difficulties and solutions to getting along with each other!

[Cam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great analogy of life to play the game. Full of spiritual insight.

[Joe Oaster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love John O book';s but this was not my favorite. I am not calling it bad, just not my favorite of his

[Ben Palm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read to give you a proper perspective on life and to challenge you to live differently. And it’s funny, too!

[Greg Busch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy John Ortberg and as I said in another review I am reading his material in anticipation of his visit to Spokane in early Fall. The book has a very relaxed style and can be read in a short time. Try it, I think most would find it to their liking.