"WHAT ABOUT GAMBLING ?"
July 18, 1999
SOME KEY FACTS —
USA - $639 spent annually on legalized gambling.
Sharpest increase in gambling is among senior citizens.
In CA, 40% of lottery tickets are bought by the unemployed.
The casinos’ most profitable day is Sunday.
The casinos’ busiest days are the 3rd and 4th of the month.
The most lottery tickets are sold on the 3rd day of the month.
Over 50% of the money spent in casinos is not brought in with gamblers, but is extracted electronically.
THE MOST DISTURBING RECENT TREND to me is the "sanitizing" and "family-izing" of legalized gambling. Everything in Las Vegas now is promoted as being "family" oriented.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GAMBLING?
1. GAMBLING DEMONSTRATES OUR DISSATISFACTION WITH GOD’S PROVISION.
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4:19]
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? [Matthew 6:26]
2. GAMBLING PROMOTES A LUCK ETHIC.
Six days you shall labor and do all your work, [Exodus 20:9]
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. [2 Thess. 3:10-12]
3. GAMBLING DENIES THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST.
‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD. [Hag 2.8]
So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. [Rom. 14:12]
God gives us possessions and wealth for four reasons:
A. To supply personal and family needs.
[2 Thess. 3:10 / 1 Tim. 5.8]
B. To contribute to God’s work on earth.
[1 Cor. 16:1-3 / 2 Cor. 8:1-9:7]
C. To help the poor and needy.
[John 13:29 / Eph. 4:28 / 2 Cor. 9:6-15]
D. To support our government.
[Mat. 22:21 / Rom. 13:7]
4. GAMBLING DOES NOT GLORIFY GOD.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. [Colossians 3:17,23]
5. GAMBLING CRIPPLES OUR TESTIMONY.
Abstain from all appearance of evil.[1 Thes 5:22 / KJV]
