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What About Gambling?
Intro:
- John 8:32 – “And you shall
know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
- Millions need God’s truth on gambling
so they can freed from its insidious & destructive grip
- Defined: To play at any game of chance for
stakes…to risk money, or anything of value, on the outcome of
something involving chance. Bet; wager; any matter or things involving
risk or hazardous uncertainty. (Random House College Dictionary, pg
542)
- A stake is involved whereby one stands
to gain at the loss of others, depending on the outcome of some
arbitrary element of chance.
- Gambling differs from risk (i.e. farming,
stocks & bonds, etc.)
a.
Gambling-one stands to gain at loss of others, deciding
factor is an event arbitrarily selected.
b.
In farming, etc. profit not sought at expense of others
& risk is not contrived. Hard work, investment of time, money, etc.
- Gambling takes different forms:
a.
Residents of Missouri
can engage in a number of legal gambling activities. Some are:
i.
Lottery
ii.
Fund raising events such as casino nights, bingo,
raffles, etc.
iii.
Casinos and Bingo halls
iv.
Horse racing, etc.
b.
Widespread: Over 50 million Americans gamble.
c.
Read Fact Sheets from National Council On Problem
Gambling
d.
Gaming vocabulary (euphemisms): gaming, compulsive
gamblers, problem gamblers, pathological gamblers…SIN!
e.
What is wrong with gambling? Should a Christian gamble?
I.
Gambling Violates Legitimate Economy.
- 3 Legitimate means of transferring property.
1.
Law of Labor – Money is earned by effort expended
2.
Law of exchange – Buying & selling, investment,
etc.
3.
Law of love – Money is given w/out expectation or
desire for return. Gambling
doesn’t fit any of these categories!
- God recognizes and authorizes these
principles
1.
Labor – Eph 4:28; II Thes 3:12; Luke
10:7
2.
Buying & Selling – Matt 13:44; 25:27
3.
Giving & Receiving – Eph 4:28; Acts
2:45
4.
Gambling is a violation of all of these!
5.
It’s a parasite on legitimate economy and exists
w/out divine authority.
II. Gambling Violates
Divine Law – Not mentioned in most versions of the Bible, how can it
be wrong?
---Gambling –
Prov 13:11 - The Living Bible
---Gambled – Matt
27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34 New Living Translation
- Violates Private Industry
1.
God ordained this for man & makes him unfit for this
mission in life. Gen 3:19
2.
One’s income is to come from his own hard work
– I Thes 4:11-12; II Thes 3:10
3.
The gambler profits solely from another persons
loss (casino’s)
4.
In using money to gamble, one evades responsibility to
provide for self and family (Lk
16:10-13)
a.
Involves tragic waste!
5.
Gambling perpetuates the “something for
nothing” mentality.
- Essential Motive Is Covetousness (greed) “"The
poorest person I know is the one who has nothing but money."-John
D. Rockefeller Jr.”
1.
Seeks reward of another man’s work. (Get rich
quick)
2. “To fix
passion upon”, “To long inordinately for”
3.
I Tim 6:10 – Love of money is the root of
gambling
- Accompanied By Other Evils
1.
Matt 7:16 - Know it
by it’s fruits (James 3:11-12)
2.
Fruits of gambling: greed, broken homes, theft, organized
crime, murder, drinking, and suicide
- Is Opposed to the Good Of Society
1.
Economic Liability
2.
Attracts criminal element (lawless environment)
3.
Gov’t creates bureaucracy to oversee it and deal with fallout (Prov
14:34)
- Does Not Promote Godliness
1.
Phil 4:8; I Thes 5:22; Matt 5:16; Titus 2:7;
James 4:4; I Tim 6:17-19
- Neither Amount Of
Wager Or Benefactor Of Losses Changes Gambling Into Innocent Activity.
1.
The amount of the wager doesn’t
change its nature…gambling…SIN! (lottery)
2. “It’s
for a good cause” (bingo for religious org., school raffle, etc.)
Doesn’t change God’s will!
a.
God’s will (& commandments) is not situational
– Situational ethics.
3.
Gambling is not wrong ONLY for those who can’t
afford to lose!
4.
Whether for large amounts or the price of a cup of
coffee.
Conclusion:
- Gambling is evil for secular & spiritual
reasons.
1.
The child of God must not practice gambling in any way
shape or form.
2. Life is not about avoiding discomfort
B. People who
wanted sinners to feel no discomfort were labeled as false prophets in
times past,
1. Isaiah 30:10; Jeremiah 8:11
2. Spiritual
growth many times requires being convicted and being uncomfortable - Matt
5:3-4
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