The "Yes and No" game

"Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?" - 1 Corinthians 6:7 (New King James Version)

Just yesterday during our cell group meeting, I remember of a small "game" - or an activity to be more exact - that I played back in Indonesia. It was during a fellowship retreat, and the person who led us in that game is our then youth advisor.

In that game, we were divided to three groups; A, B, and C. Afterwards, we were told that we are going to play a game of economics. It was not an interesting subject at that time for me personally but since she (our advisor) had never disappointed us in anything, we just dug in and played.

The rules are not too complex: Each group is given 10 turns. In every turn, they are given an opportunity to "negotiate" with the other two groups separately. That means two opportunities per turn. What do they need the "negotiation" for? To get a share of the total pool of money available (let's say the sum is $100,000). How do they get the share? by committing to response either "Yes" or "No". What does this has to do with getting money? Now there's the twist of the game.
At the end of every turn, the "referee" (or judge) will then ask each group for their committed response. They will then have to answer "Yes" or "No". One thing to note is that whatever the result of the negotiation was, it doesn't matter. What matters is what the groups say to the referee at the end of that turn. The answers relate directly with the amount of money earned.

Here's the combination (we'll use just A and B for illustration purposes):

1. If both A and B says "Yes", then both A and B gets $1000
2. If A says "Yes" and B says "No", then A gets $3300 while B gets none
3. If A says "No" and B says "Yes", then B gets $3300 while A gets none
4. If both A and B says "No", then both A and B gets $500

Easy isn't it? The winner is the one who collects the most amount of money after the tenth turn. And they can do so by whatever method of persuasion they choose.

It's a fun game. Try it. And you'll soon see how sly and tricky and selfish people can be. Even towards their own brothers and sisters.

"Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." - Philippians 2:4 (New King James Version)