Money talks. It talks in many ways. It talks and tells us of many ways to 'earn' it; some good and some bad. Among the bad are: gambling: quick money (eg. lottery or casinos); dishonest gain: eg. bribes; stealing in one form or another: eg. embezzlement; and casting lots, bets, and chance. Among the good of course, is plain ole hard work.
To gamble or not to gamble, that is another question. Is it for Christians? There is no absolute black and white answer in God's Word. There is no, "Thou shalt not gamble!" The Bible is, however, loaded with oodles of guiding principles regarding money. If the reader here cares to have a look at them, coupled with secular knowledge of gambling and other such pursuits, its effects on individuals, families and society in general, keep reading.
I DO NOT purport to have all the answers. This little 'sermonette' is just a culmination of many mini morning devotionals on the subject with my sons at breakfast. Them eating their physical food and me feeding them some spiritual nuggets simultaneously.
So, if money talks, how does a Christian differentiate between the 'right' and the 'wrong' way to 'listen' to 'talking money'? How can one let money be one's servant but not one's master or god?
God told Adam (see Genesis 3:19) he'd have to "work by the sweat of his brow"; that is, effort for reward. So much, then, for get-rich-quick schemes; lottery buyers & casino goers. Solomon tells us that "an inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end" (Proverbs 20:21). Note that these can and do cause one's family trouble; thus the lack of end blessing.
Lump gambling, betting and chance together and note again, that they feed the lure of winning big money, fast, but that there are warnings against such. "A man lacking in judgement strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor." (Prov 17:18). There are several verses in this line. Proverbs 7:6-27 also warns about the "simple man" who lacked judgement. He was enticed in a different way, nevertheless the victims of getting rich quickly are similarly "brought down".
A Googled guy said that "gambling's get-rich-quick appeal mocks capitalism's core values." Those values being, it was said: disciplined work habits; thrift, prudence, adherence to routine" and as aforementioned, "the relationship between effort and reward". Sound familiar to what God told Adam? This is good Christian practice you'll notice frequently when reading through God's Word for yourself. The article went on to say that gambling replaces all the above with: greed, selfishness and the dependence on luck and chance.
Straight away, we followers of Jesus will say, "we are to trust in God and depend on Him!" That's right; otherwise money will talk a person into making it their god. A person can't serve two masters. They must choose between God or money (see Matthew 6:24).
Come back to the greed bit. Greedy men bring trouble to their families and stir up dissensions says Solomon (Proverbs 15:27 and 28:25). Also, "He who brings trouble on his family will inherit the wind and the fool will be servant to the wise." (Proverbs 11:29) How is it that greed does this? How does the greed feed more greed to cause the family trouble?
Apparently, gambling, betting and "trying your luck" bring out the greediness aspect of the human nature. Especially, as one of the Googled guys said about the "effects of gambling," if there had been an "early win", with that "beginner's luck" opportune flash, the euphoria creates almost instant addiction to gambling and those appeals to greed. Thence begins that "coveting greedily all the day long" (Proverbs 21:26-KJV) affliction.
If one does happen to work but then spends ones' earnings on such addictions, the family doesn't get much provision, if any, for food, clothing, decent shelter or education. This, in turn, may bring family members to feel shame and have low self-esteem, to name a few woes. This is trouble, is it not? Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:8, "a person who refuses to look after his family is worse than an infidel." He also told the Corinthian believers in 2 Corinthians 12:14--"parents must provide for children". Neglect of family destroys family.
When greedy people are determined to get their big, selfish share, or more than share, of whatever they want, they "stir up dissension". Maybe the 'gamble game' didn't go in their favor; imagine the ruckus. The Corinthians were told not to associate with a person who called himself a Christian but was greedy. Christians in those early days shared their possessions. How do you think that would work out with a greedy chap in their midst? Dissension.
Some may argue that, "oh, I only gamble at certain festive times of the year" or "a little bit won't hurt". Maybe. Maybe not. However, God's Word instructs us to "avoid all kinds of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22). That same verse in the KJV reads "abstain from all appearance of evil"; I believe the message is clear to those wise enough to want to hear.
As mentioned earlier--"an early win could develop an addiction". An addiction once entrenched can become chronic and bring a lifetime of trouble to the family. Trouble of lack of basic necessities but also cause trouble for oneself--divorce; alienation of children; more dissension. If striking hands in pledge for higher stakes and the gambler lost his bet-poverty may well ensue. Thus trouble many never stop troubling you or your family (Proverbs 1:19). The picture isn't pretty.
We are to honor the Lord with our wealth (Proverbs 3:9); storing up legally when and where we can. Refuse to strike hands in pledge (Proverbs 11:15). If a person is prudent, faithful, trusts in the Lord, is diligent and gathers his money "little by little" by good plain ole hard work he will gain wisdom and understanding and knowledge. This person will prosper richly in his soul. Solomon told us to look at the ants. They are an excellent example of this. They stored up food diligently and little by little so they had enough to last themselves throughout the long winter (Proverbs 30:25).
It was said that the gambling addiction may eventually become a disorder. The person continues in a vicious cycle of willingness "to risk something he or she values in hope of getting something of even greater value". This mostly does not happen; the WIN, that is. Yet that hopeless hope dangles out there continually like the proverbial carrot leading the donkey on to its destination. He can never quite attain it.
The early or the once-in-a-while win, I read, "stimulates the brain's reward system like drugs or alcohol, thus fuel towards an entrenched addiction. The poor soul then "coveteth greedily all the day long.." (Proverbs 21:26 KJV). This is a very sad condition to find a person in and this person will need a great deal of compassion and patience from the body of Christ to help him or her overcome such a predicament.
What causes people to get 'into' the gambling scene in the first place? My Google source said: "early wins; a person is more likely to be male; a stressful life event such as the death of a loved one; a divorce; depression/anxiety; a family history of gambling; and alcoholism. As people who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ we need to guard against those things with the help of the Holy Spirit and of the body of Christ. Brothers and sisters-in-Christ, help your brother or sister-in-Christ learn to be accountable to God's better way of living.
We who belong to Jesus have Help. First of all, "Read your Bible! Source out all relating verses and meditate upon them; Proverbs is chock full. We also have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us and one of the fruit of the Spirit is "self-control"; exercise the fruit into maturity. Seek out the body of Christ to help hold you accountable; to strengthen, admonish and help and pray for each other. We in turn can warn and help them. This can be true for anyone's addiction, not just for the gambling gambit.
A person can guard against gambling and other addictions by seeking alternatives such as: sports; reading books; spending time with family or friends doing things that help others (charities, church work, service to the Lord). Train oneself to use time in more healthy and beneficial pursuits.
There are such things as legalized state-sponsered greed producers such as casinos and lotteries. These should be ashamed of themselves. Further googled info led to Romans 13:17 but especially verse 4 which says that authority "is God's servant to do you good..." If the authorities cause those under their rule to suffer, or as individuals making up the fabric of society, to become greedy &/or a plethora of other negative things through these avenues; they'll have a lot to answer for.
The article stated that "bad social, economic and government policy undermines moral foundations of society and invites corruption in government," and elsewhere, no doubt. It certainly invites greed into a man's heart. It was noted that the 'life' around casinos and gambling areas, often has associated "rise in crime rates, vice and corruption". Do we as followers of Jesus Christ even want to dabble in such and take the risk of eventual involvement even if inadvertently or unintentionally? Christians need to stand up against this not frivolously flirt with it even if only for seasonal entertainment.
A "little leaven, leavens the whole lump" (Galatians 5:9). As alluded to earlier, some folks may say, "it's just good fun and entertainment once or twice a year" or "I know my limit." I repeat what God's Word says, "avoid every kind of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22) and that was said to Christians.
One John MacArthur has said that gambling builds on irresponsible stewardship...throwing God's resources away at the altar of a god called "Chance' or 'Luck'. Idolatry. See rather where ones' treasure is better placed by reading Matthew 6:19-21.
Many of us have done the "scissors, paper, rock" or the "coin toss...heads you win/tails you lose" or the "short straw" thing to choose who goes first, etc, to start a game. That could be viewed similarly as "casting lots" which action is found in the Bible. The soldiers cast lots to see who'd inherit Jesus' clothes; for instance.
The Old Testament people would cast lots for finding out God's will in a matter. "God would intervene with His sovereignty and cause lots to fall in such a way that His followers would know what He wanted. Did he want them to go into battle or not, is one example; so explained John Mac Arthur.
But this casting of lots was not to get quick money nor to help the greedy become more greedy. Note it was not for gaining further wealth but to find, accept and to do God's will! How much better it is to get wisdom and understanding than to get gold and silver so says Solomon in Proverbs 16:16. Have good stewardship over your resources. The fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God is the beginning of such wisdom. Ask of God, He'll give that wisdom (James 1:5) to you and the wisdom for discipline and self-control building.
These ideas spill into working diligently and earning little by little to gain reward; financially as well as in character and conduct. "All hard work brings a profit." (Proverbs 14:23). Chance "erodes the work ethic" which again, as God told Adam, he'd have to "earn bread by the sweat of his brows" (Genesis 3:19). John MacArthur further points out that "the addictive wagering process saps the good that a decent salary can afford". The acts of betting, lotteries, and gambling all knock hard against God's Word. Our Almighty God and Father wants us to learn the price of honest work and hard-earned cash and not to gain it as scoundrels and villains do with "winks of the eye", "signals with the feet" and "motions with fingers"; the ways in which these things often happen to the detriment of others (Proverbs 6:12, 13).
God has a plan for our life and when we, as His children, would try to live by 'chance' we may well circumvent that good plan. Be willing to do His will. When we have situations in life, list out the pros and cons and lay them before Him. Pray over the situation. Tell Him. See how His Holy Spirit will lead, guide and direct you, not only in earning and spending money but in all of life. Be willing to follow that guidance.
John Mac Arthur notates that "when driven by the sin of covetousness a person often ends up gambling. Whether that is at the casinos or in a friend's home, God's 10th commandment is violated (Exodus 20:17)". We have seen that gambling feeds greediness and so more often than not ends up in a vicious cycle becoming a chronic addiction. He goes on to say that this covetousness "assumes God hasn't given us what we ought to have and that there is somehow more wealth that will finally make us happy." Money has become ones' god and not God our God. This violates the 1st and 2nd commandments.
Another observation indicated by John MacArthur is that gambling in one form or another, "builds on the exploitation of others very often of those who can least afford it. This violates the 8th commandment, "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15). For everyone who wins, there are millions of losers duped into throwing money away in large sums." We followers of Jesus Christ are supposed to help the poor not exploit them.
"The Lord condemns a crafty man" (Proverbs 12:2). Granted it's most often the rich that go to casinos and those with less income generally more apt to go for the lottery. No matter. The issue is still the same. Let us not allow ourselves lured, no matter what our income, into "dedicating something rashly" (Proverbs 20:25); that's more Solomon wisdom. Don't let yourself be stolen from following after God's ways to follow after these degrading ways.
Arcades, slot machines, mahjong, cards, lottery, chance, gambling, horse racing, soccor game results, betting--Christian, tear yourself away from all of these. "Honor the Lord and serve Him with your wealth" (Proverbs 3:9).
Talking about stealing from others, Solomon says that "Dishonest money dwindles away but he who gathers little by little makes it grow." Bribes, embezzlement of funds; many or few items brought sneakily home from work because "the boss won't miss it, in fact he'll never know"' just should not characterize someone who claims to belong to Christ. "Walk circumspectly before the Lord..." (Ephesians 5:15 KJV). Let us be reminded that "ill-gotten treasures are of no value" (Proverbs 11:18) and that "a wicked man earns deceptive wages but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward" (Proverbs 11:18).
Speaking of righteousness..."Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice". In the classic book (and movie thereof) entitled Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin, the fellow renounces his inheritance to honor a promise (he had made rashly) to marry a girl from a lower echelon of wealth. This promise he made in his younger more foolish days. It came back to haunt him but he did plan to honor that promise; that was the noble thing to do. The girl was actually after that wealth and when she realized she couldn't have it she relinquished the hold she had on that chap through the promise. He was then free to marry the girl who would actually marry him for love.
There is however, provision and wisdom again from Solomon who recommends that if we do find ourselves in a bind due to rash action, what can be done to extricate ourselves. Desperate situations, and /or having struck our hands in pledge, call for desperate action as per the prescription of Proverbs 6:1-5. So all will not be lost.
How would someone get themselves into a bind in the first place? Succumbing to peer pressure. Pressure of the moment from playing foolish games such as "Truth or Dare"; or since every one else is doing it "I'll feel like a fool or spoil sport if I don't join" are some reasons. These are strong forces to stand against even if fortified with a promise made to oneself in the past to NOT to be so entrapped. "Pressure of the moment," is often seen in one's mind to force one to decide something in a hurry; that one must do it. A feeling that one must vow or promise away one's possessions, cash, or even one's life in such a situation can be brutal. In the emotion of the moment in gambling or even in playing Truth or Dare, for instance, one could bomb out one's life in one fell swoop.
Praise the Lord we have God's Word to keep us out of trouble. Let us read and heed it and preserve our lives for better things such as serving Him; glorifying and honoring Him. Seek to bring peace and life to ourselves and our family.
In light of all this enlightening about money and how, when it 'talks', it can affect us in regards to greed and covetousness; affecting our family and our society negatively; I really praise God for what He did for me long ago.
When I was about 8 or 9 years old I was visiting a friend whose parents allowed us to go to the fair nearby her house. My parents would never ever have given me any money for it much less even let me go to such a place. So you can imagine my glee to be "let loose" and given a quarter (.25 Canadian) to spend however I wished. Together, both the freedom and the quarter, were like having been served a million bucks on a golden platter.
Having looked the fair over I decided my best bet for spending that precious quarter would be that dazzling little machine one could operate, excavator style, to grab hold of an enticing looking doll inside the enclosed glass case, lift that doll up and over to the 'slide-out-into-your-hands' slot and presto! That dear little doll would be mine!! It looked ever so simple, but alas, it wasn't.
Oh, I was so indignant at the loss! I felt so cheated! No doll and now no quarter! Oh, I was so angry! But there was nothing I could do about it. Furious and discontented I went home.
It was a good lesson and I vowed there and then at that young age, never to be cheated by such a machine ever again. This was a blessing in disguise and why I now praise the Lord for not letting me have that 'early win'!! Isn't God good?!
God's grace is sufficient for us. Have confidence in Him. Let your motivations in life be to please Him. Let the desire of your heart be to honor God, help your family, and help your brothers and sisters-in-Christ. Let God be your God and the Master of your life and money. When money talks, don't listen, listen instead to God.
ERC 2015
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