[Editor's Note: This is the first of two articles on gambling that we will present. Next week David B. Brown will bring us his thoughts on the subject.]
Question: What does the Bible teach about gambling? Answered by Leon Mauldin (http://www.hsv.tis.net/~rew/cgi-bin/leon.cgi/ft=1/tk=gambling)
Time Magazine (2/25/91) reported on the rise of teenage gambling "...of the estimated 8 million compulsive gamblers in America, fully 1 million are teenagers." Researchers offer such explanations as state governments promoting lotteries; also "unstable families, low self-esteem and a societal obsession with money."
Gambling is defined as to play a game for money or other stake...hence: to stake money or any other thing of value upon an uncertain event; to hazard; wager. In gambling, a stake is involved whereby one stands to gain at the loss of others depending upon the outcome of some selected element of chance. People can bet on anything; that selected element of chance may range from a state lottery, to a presidential election, to a football game, to who is the winner of the prize from among those who have "bought a chance."
Gambling violates Biblical Principles.
a. Some object that the word gambling does not appear in the Bible.
b. Violates legitimate economy. It does not involve gain by reason of labor (Gen 2:15; 3:19; Eph. 4:28; 2 Thess. 3:10); it does not involve exchange of equal values; it does not involve a gift (Luke 6:38; Matt. 2:11). Also, receiving interest (Matt. 25:27).
c. The motivation of gambling is covetousness. It seeks the rewards of another's efforts. To covet is to long inordinately for something that is another's. This disposition of heart is condemned (1 Tim. 6;10; Col. 3:5).
d. The attraction of gambling is this desire to gain without labor or fair exchange that which belongs to someone else.
e. Obedience to the command to love our neighbor prevents us from
gambling (Mt. 22:39; Rom. 13:9-10).
1) Mt. 7:12: Violates the golden rule.
f. The Christian is concerned with his influence (Mt. 5:16).
1) These Scriptures are more than enough to show anyone who is honest and sincere that gambling is worldly and sinful in nature. It should be abhorred, despised and rejected.
g. The fruit of gambling is corrupt (Mt. 7:16,18,20).
1) A gambler robs his family (1 Tim. 5:8)
2) The Senate Crime Investigating Committee (1950-51) as reported by Sen. Estes Kefauver in Crime In America stated "Gambling produces nothing and adds nothing to the economy or society of our nation. America will be in a bad way if we ever resort to taxing crimes and immorality for the purpose of raising revenue to operate our institutions." Crime has greatly increased in those cities that are known for their gambling casinos. The Reno police department says that 75% of the embezzlement cases are related to gambling. Suicides for gamblers are up 12-15% above the national average.
Gambling is injurious to the morals and welfare of the people. It has wrecked homes and has ruined many lives. It is addictive. It is directly connected with drinking, theft, broken homes, neglected children and murder. George Washington said, "It is the child of avarice, the brother of iniquity, the father of mischief." Jimmy the Greek said, "When you put legalized gambling into a community, you ruin the community."
What if gambling is legalized by the state?
a. Murdering babies (abortion) is legal; does this make it right? Divorce is legal, but God says it is wrong except in the case of fornication (Mt. 19:9). Anything that is condemned by God's word before it is legalized remains condemned after it is legalized.
b. What if the gambling is just for small amounts of money? As gambling itself is wrong, the amount of the stake makes no difference. I.e., "I know it is wrong to steal a large amount; what about a small sum?"
c. What if it is just for fun? A Christian does not find entertaining those things that are sinful before God.
d. What if it is called a "donation"? This is just a euphemism, a word change to make what is in reality gambling more palatable. Thinking people can see that calling gambling a donation does not change the fact that it is still gambling.
Because of the problems it breeds, gambling costs more to police than it can bring in as revenue for the state.
"GOD'S EMBROIDERY" Author Unknown
When I was a little boy, my mother used to embroider a great deal. I would sit at her knee and look up from the floor and ask what she was doing. She informed me that she was embroidering. I told her that it looked like a mess from where I was. As from the underside I watched her work within the boundaries of the little round hoop that she held in her hand, I complained to her that it sure looked messy from where I sat.
She would smile at me, look down and gently say, "My son, you go about your playing for a while, and when I am finished with my embroidering, I will put you on my knee and let you see it from my side."
I would wonder why she was using some dark threads along with the bright ones and why they seemed so jumbled from my view. A few minutes would pass and then I would hear Mother's voice say, "Son, come and sit on my knee." This I did only to be surprised and thrilled to see a beautiful flower or a sunset. I could not believe it, because from underneath it looked so messy.
Then Mother would said to me, "My son, from underneath it did look messy and jumbled, but you did not realize that there was a pre-drawn plan on the top. It was a design. I was only following it. Now look at it from my side and you will see what I was doing."
Many times through the years I have looked up to my Heavenly Father and said, "Father, what are You doing?"
He has answered, "I am embroidering your life."
I say, "But it looks like a mess to me. It seems so jumbled. The threads seem so dark. Why can't they all be bright?"
The Father seems to tell me, "'My child, you go about your business of doing My business, and one day I will bring you to Heaven and put you on My knee and you will see the plan from My side."
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
An open mind is good, so is an open window; but you put a screen on it to keep the bugs out.
The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. (Rom. 8:6 NIV)
Free Gift of God by David B. Brown (http://web.dbtech.net/~ttt/)
Jesus Christ is the free gift, given to us while we were yet sinners (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8). Paul contrasted the offense of Adam with the perfect life of Jesus Christ in Rom. 5:15: "But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many." That gift is given, and will not be taken back. It is available to every human on the face of this earth. The question is, will you accept it?
Some conclude that if this gift is "free" (as the bible says that it is) then anything that we do to accept it would nullify it. Most often this reasoning is used to discredit baptism. However, if it is true, there is no reason that the same would not apply to any behavior change, including repentance and faith (which is work - Jn 6:29). There are but two conclusions that can be drawn if this is taken to its logical conclusion. Either: (1) all are unconditionally saved, or (2) God arbitrarily chooses who is saved and who is lost. The former is the doctrine of Universalism, and latter is Calvinism. Both are false doctrines that convince people that they are saved when they are not.
The bible teaches that there are conditions on man's salvation. Compare this to your receiving an inheritance from a long lost uncle. Out of the blue you receive a check for $1 million. But there are still conditions - you still have to identify yourself, endorse the check, deposit it, and sign a receipt for it. Would we ever claim that we were purchasing the inheritance by meeting these conditions? No, we would do them with pleasure. Should God expect anything less?
[Editor's Note: Visit Bro. Brown's website to read more on this topic (http://web.dbtech.net/~ttt/ttt9902.htm)]