In this case, it really isn’t about the money. That James Holzhauer has won over $1M in just 14 episodes of ‘Jeopardy!” is a big deal for sure. But the real story is how he’s doing it. A professional gambler in Las Vegas, Holzhauer has veins of ice and nerves of steel, knocking off the high value questions first, betting the farm on Double Jeopardy, keeping his opponents off the board through outstanding skills buzzing in, and finally, in Final Jeopardy, betting the farm again. His per game winnings average is in the stratosphere.
In short, James got game.
Pro tip: He’s got game because he did his homework before ever arrived on set.
How’s your homework going for the game of life? How’s your passion for learning how to live well. By nature we default to what is easy to understand and easier to do. Call it sin, call it evil inside us, call it what you will. That tendency to default on the opportunity before us lurks at life’s every turn. Cain learned that lesson before he defaulted and took his brother’s life. (Genesis 4:7). Early Christians who carried the hope of Jesus knew that and by the time Revelation was written were in pockets of free fall failure. (1 Peter 5:8)
There is no more consistent call on a follower of God than to “seek”, “get”, “find” wisdom. If you want game, you have to go get it. Whether it is in the company of mentors or trusted teachers or reliable friends that want what’s best for you (as opposed to what’s easy)—these are the people with whom the game really begins. And in the end, the payout is secondary to the way you play the game.
Just ask James Holzhauer. He’s going to love the cash. For sure. But he has forever redefined how the game of ‘Jeopardy!” will be played.
And, I’m glad Alex Trebek got to see that after all his years of hosting.
The Apt Word Blog--by Scott Seidler 