LightGrams
January 2, 2025
Volume 29, Number 1
Neil Skallan of the United Kingdom has set the record again. His first Guinness World Record was set in 2016; in 2017 he broke that record, and again in 2018. The record he holds is for owning the most Monopoly sets. It’s official; staff members of GWR came to his home and personally counted the number of sets he owns, most of which are still wrapped in plastic.
I would be surprised if anyone reading this is not familiar with the board game called Monopoly. I have played it many times beginning in childhood. It’s not my favorite game, but I have many memories associated with it. I have also noted through the years various editions of the game that are based on places, colleges, video games, and television series. What I would never have dreamed is how many sets there are. Skallan has 4,379 sets, and there are more he has not yet obtained!
Does this man qualify as a fanatic? Clearly, he does. But has his hobby become an obsession? Here are his words in the United Press International story: “Is that the be all and end all? Yes, it is.” I interpret that to mean that collecting Monopoly sets is his primary mission in life. Everything else must take a back seat.
Neil Skallan’s story is interesting, but more than anything his story is sad. I base that assessment on words spoken by Jesus Christ: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Making sure our soul is saved by Christ is absolutely “the be all and end all” according to Jesus.
A man with a different definition of “be all, end all” is described in Luke 12. Jesus described this man’s obsession: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully” (Luke 12:16). His wealth had reached the point that he could plan his retirement in which he would “eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:19). His success had reached the level of a Guinness World Record, he felt.
God had a different view of this man: “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’” (Luke 12:20). A day is coming when something similar will be said to Neil Skallan: “… then whose will those Monopoly sets be which you have collected?”
Each of us has our own obsessions and collections. As we begin another year, let us take careful inventory and make sure our “be all, end all” is not misplaced. Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 is a good place to begin our inventory: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2024, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “[email protected]” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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