GAMBLING
Gambling-1.a. To bet on an uncertain outcome, as of a
contest. b. Games. To play a game of chance for stakes. 2. To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage or a
benefit.
1) Is a covetous practice:
Exodus 20:17 Thou
shalt not covet … any thing that is thy neighbour's.
Col. 3:5
covetousness, which is idolatry:
Psalm 10:3 the
covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.
Hebrews 13:5 Let
your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as
ye have:
Luke 12:15 Take
heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the
abundance of the things which he possesseth.
2) Is
from a desire to be rich:
Proverbs
23:4 Labour not to be rich:
Proverbs 28:22 He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye,
and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
1 Cor. 10:24 Let
no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
1 Tim. 6:8-10 And
having food and raiment let us be therewith content. [9] But they that will be
rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts,
which drown men in destruction and perdition. [10] For the love of money is the
root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the
faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
3) Is
against God’s way of labouring for wages;
‘something for nothing’:
Luke 10:7 for
the labourer is worthy of his hire.
1 Tim. 5:18
For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out
the corn. And, The labourer is
worthy of his reward.
1 Cor. 9:9-10 For
it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox
that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it
altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written:
2 Thes. 3:10, 12 For even when we were with
you, this we commanded you, that if any would
not work, neither should he eat. [12] Now them that are such we command and
exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
Leviticus 23:3 Six
days shall work be done:
1 Thes. 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet,
and to do your own business, and to work
with your own hands, as we commanded you;
Proverbs 13:11 Wealth
gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
4) Is an unwise risk:
Luke 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in
the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
Luke 19:12-13,
15-26 He said therefore, A certain
nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to
return. [13] And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and
said unto them, Occupy till I come. And it came to pass, that when he was returned,
having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto
him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had
gained by trading. [16] Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath
gained ten pounds. [17] And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because
thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
[18] And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. [19]
And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. [20] And another
came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a
napkin: [21] For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up
that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. [22] And he
saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant.
Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and
reaping that I did not sow: [23] Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the
bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? [24] And he
said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that
hath ten pounds. [25] (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) [26]
For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him
that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
5) It is not of faith
Romans 14:23 : for whatsoever is not of
faith is sin. You are betting on something ‘uncertain’. 1 Tim. 6:17 Charge them
that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the
living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. Gambling is hoping in
something uncertain. Therefore it is not
of faith. What if you trust God
for the gamble? Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing
by the word of God. Where does the word of God instruct such faith? Then to
trust God for gambling would be to tempt God. Luke 4:12 And
Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy
God. Did he not also say “I returned, and saw under
the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,
neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet
favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all”
(Eccl.9:11)?
6) It assumes a false view of chance or luck.
Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole
disposing thereof is of the LORD. Chance
is not something that governs the universe. Probability is only a valid form of
processing information if the omnipotence of God is assumed. There is no
atheistic chance or superstitious luck.
Gambling is an addictive lust which destroys
men’s lives drowning them in destruction and perdition. There are organizations
who try to help gambling addicts to get free from the bondage and they list
many dangers associated with gambling. These are a few random example:
The
Financial Dangers
The chief
problem associated with gambling addiction relates to an individual’s
finances. Men and women will run through all of their savings in order to
keep playing. They may become so consumed with gambling that they lose
their jobs – thus destroying their family’s primary source of income.
Relationship
Risks
Many people
lose much more than their money when they become addicted to gambling.
Relationships are often lost as well. Gambling compulsively usually
involves lying to one’s spouse or significant other about money, jobs or one’s
whereabouts. When this trust is damaged it is very difficult to
repair.
Health
Risks
Many people
might think that there are no health risks associated with gambling
addiction. Although there not as many medical problems as found in
alcohol and drug addicts, individuals can still experience high levels of
stress as a result of gambling or gambling debts. This stress can lead to
heart problems, high blood pressure and other serious health issues. Many
commit crimes to obtain gambling money, their families are devastated, and a
disproportionate number commit suicide.
Some symptoms of gambling addiction:
Craving
for gaming.
Depression.
Feelings
of remorse after gambling.
Resorting
to theft or fraud to obtain money to gamble.
Gambler
feels the need to bet more money more frequently.
In
spite of escalating losses, the person continues to gamble believing they will
recuperate losses.
Increasing
financial debt (using income and savings for gambling, borrowing money, resort
to gambling to meet financial obligations).
Loss
of control.
Loss
of sleep.
Person
persists in gambling behavior in spite of growing, severe, negative
consequences.
Repetitive
unsuccessful attempts to stop gambling.
Rising
obsession with gambling.
Stress related problems
(migraines, intestinal disorders).
When
attempting to refrain from gambling, the person becomes restless or irritable.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/15929.php
True and free salvation from all addictions comes through the death of Jesus Christ and the shedding of his blood and
resurrection from the dead; through faith in his death as the destruction of
our lusts and the power of his resurrection for the full deliverance from our
sin.
Read these powerful and informative chapters
of scripture:
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