Dennis L. Finnan Commentator GAMBLING MANIA! “APART FROM BEING CONSUMED THESE DAYS BY SEPTEMBER 11TH, OUR ENTIRE NATION IS ON ANOTHER NATIONAL SPREE. A SPREE THAT IS EFFECTIVELY RUINING AND EVEN BANKRUPTING PEOPLE OF EVERY AGE AND GENERATION.” I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about the gambling mania sweeping our nation… …Let’s face it, we are a nation of gamblers! According to the Public Gaming Research Institute, Inc., America’s annual total of gambling from all sources is estimated to be between $ 500 BILLION to $1 TRILLION dollars annually! This includes all forms of legal and illegal gambling such as Las Vegas style casino gambling, state lotteries, college and sports wagering, Internet gambling, Indian gambling, race track gambling, poker and card gambling, and even church bingo and raffle gambling! These all fall into three categories ľ social gambling, professional gambling and governmental gambling. Social gambling can further be divided into legal and illegal gambling. Do you know that with the newest form of gambling, Internet gambling, an estimated ONE BILLION dollars is spent annually on this illegal form of wagering; that is, according to the House Subcommittee on Crime, which held hearings on November 1st, 2001. Now, just how bad is this addiction, and worse, what’s happening to many Christians these days who seem to feel nothing is wrong with it as long as it is recreational? Well after our second moment of music, I want to remind us all of what God has to say about all forms of gambling and what you should do about it personally and nationally as well. So don’t go away, this information is important for you, our nation and the world!.. …Not let’s be honest and forthright at the beginning. As a Christian minister, I know for a fact that the Bible does not speak directly on the issue of gambling, but I truly believe that the Scriptures do speak of many principles of condemnation and generalizations that address the issue plain enough. So let’s begin.
WHAT IS GAMBLING?
\Well simply, it is “the transference of money, property or other valuables on the basis of the chance, bypassing God’s normal means of acquiring it.” Now, what is God’s approved means of acquiring wealth, goods or property? The answer is three-fold: (1)
Old fashioned performance of work or service (2) family inheritance, or (3) by gift. On the other hand, gambling is “the seeking of reallocating of wealth of another on the basis of deliberate risk, involving immediate gain to one party at the loss of another.” The determining process always involves risk by the element of chance.
WHY DO PEOPLE GAMBLE?
The answers are varied, but they fall into general
categories such as: (1) POVERTY - So many live near or below the
poverty line and feel by gambling there is a possibility to get great wealth
from a small investment of wagering. Unfortunately, gambling appeals strongly
to the poor more than any other group who least can afford to waste their
money on such foolish means. (2)
GREED – Yes, millions of people worldwide gamble because deep
down inside is the insatiable desire for more! Especially to get it by an easy
and quick means. (3)
RECREATIONAL – It is here most excuse their participation in
all forms of gambling from State Lotteries, sports wagering, internet gambling
to church bingo games. Unfortunately, our states have become the devil’s
advocate and encourage gambling from young and old alike. This is where many
Christians fall prey and come to believe it is just fun and recreational
entertainment. (4) COMPULSION – Medical and psychological experts now understand that gambling is strikingly similar to a drug habit, and creates a psychological addiction known as compulsive gambling. Compulsive gamblers begin in the other forms and progress to this final form, where they actually physically and psychologically get “high” on it and actually have withdrawal symptoms if they stop. No price is too steep to pay to wager any money they can find or get, to attempt to win at gambling. This addiction will cause the compulsive gambler to do virtually anything to get money to gamble. As a result of these four reasons for gambling, America
has turned to gambling in increasing numbers, and even Christians are
beginning to see nothing wrong with it. Virtually, our government now is in
the gambling business and encourages young and old alike to become a gambler.
Now let’s get down to what the Bible has to say about gambling in all the
forms you can find it. THE BIBLE’S TEACHING ON GAMBLING
Isa 65:11-12 (NNAS) “”But you who forsake the LORD… Who set a table for Fortune, And who fill cups with mixed wine for Destiny… you did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight.”” (2) ALL NORMAL ADVANCEMENT OF LIFE, ACCORDING TO GOD, IS BASED ON PRODUCTIVE WHOLESOME WORK OR SERVICE – The Bible is clear here for we read in the Scriptures, Gen 3:19 (NNAS) “By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.”” 2 Th 3:10 (NNAS) “For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.” From the beginning of mankind to this day, God has called
us to work for our living, honestly and faithfully, not trying to get
another’s wealth at their expense. Gambling is non-productive activity
geared to greedily gain another’s wealth at their personal expense. The
Protestant work ethic is still alive according to God, although strained in
many societies around the world these days. If you gamble, you must come to
realize it is because you want to usurp God’s means of gaining wealth, with
a lack of love for those from whom you want to take it. Thirdly, (3) THE BIBLE SAYS THE DESIRE TO GET-RICH-QUICK IS COVETEOUSNESS AND SIN! The 8th and 10th commandments make clear that sinful man desire sinful means of obtaining what others may have. We read in Scripture, Exo 20:15-17 (NNAS) “”You shall not steal… 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”” Why even the Lord Jesus warned us to be careful not to allow our sinful nature to burst forth with its covetous spirit. He said, Luke 12:15 (NNAS) “… Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”” Paul the apostle warned Timothy a young preacher, 1 Tim 6:10 (NNAS) “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” You see, the inordinate desire for money, goods and wealth is the sin of covetousness God hates. It is also the source or stream that leads to breaking every other commandment. The grasping spirit is in opposition to all God wants to see in your life and mine, and in every nation that serves His people. The covetous spirit is one that can never be satisfied. This is what a compulsive gambler experiences, whether it is attending bingo parlors, or the racetrack or the convenience store lottery machines. Such as no place in the life of one who claims the Name of Christ. However the greatest violation of ALL forms of gambling is, it breaks God’s greatest command and will for all humanity. What is this? It is to “love” your neighbor. The greatest commandment of God for His children is found in, Luke 10:27 (NNAS) “And he answered, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”” This is the true golden rule. We are our brother’s
keeper. We cannot knowingly inflict a loss of his or her wealth in the greedy
chance of winning it way from them by any means. Gambling manipulates people
for personal profit at their expense as they try to do to others. It fosters a
spirit of greed, a lack of love, and selfishness at the highest level. So,
what’s a Christian to do? Well here are some suggestions:
Now in light of all these things, never forget the
greatest power to change the heart of a gambler is the power of Jesus Christ.
If you know someone who is steeped in gambling and helplessly addicted, the
greatest power in the universe is at his or her fingertips to change. It is to
accept Jesus Christ into the heart and life. The Bible says God alone can
change the heart and stop every addiction that afflicts us. But, one must seek
the Lord and turn wholly to Him. What does this mean? Here’s a simple plan
of reconciliation to God, everyone must turn to if one wants God’s blessings
in this life and eternity. First of all realize, God has given us a book
called the Bible. It is His instruction manual for all life He has created. It
tells us how to live rightly before God. It tells us how to avoid things of
life, which are harmful, destructive, painful and wrong. Listen to God's Word,
which says, 1. HEAVEN IS A FREE
GIFT, IT IS NOT EARNED OR DESERVED 2. MAN IS A SINNER AND CANNOT SAVE HIMSELF 3. GOD IS LOVE, BUT HE IS ALSO JUST AND MUST PUNISH SIN 4. GOD SENT US HIS SON TO DIE FOR YOU AND ME 5. GOD'S FORGIVENESS IS CONDITIONAL UPON FAITH A SUGGESTED PRAYER OF FAITH · Radio talk #4801 · Broadcast date: December 02, 2001 · Speaker: Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator · Program: The World, the Word & You! Radio Broadcast · Address: P.O. Box 40133 Grand Junction, CO 81504 The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for 22 years, and serves as General Director. These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are actual radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of recent messages is available upon request also. Want to Help? If you've been blessed and encouraged by these messages, you can help keep them on the Internet. Below is a secure link to PayPal, a way to donate through the Internet to this Christian Radio Broadcast. We are a faith ministry depending totally upon the love gifts of friends like you. Please consider a donation today of any amount. Or you can use the snail mail address at bottom left to write to us. God bless you. |
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