Gambling
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world,
and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
(1 Tm. 6:6-7)
Do you play the lottery? If so, then study with me…
Many people in today’s society misunderstand the word “gamble”. They try to justify playing the lottery, or any other form of gambling, by saying, “Well, all of life is a gamble. If all of life is a gamble, then how can the lottery be wrong? Both living this life and playing the lottery are risks (gambles) that we take every day.” We must realize that gambling is not simply a “risk”. The definition of gambling can be seen in the following illustration.
First, a greedy individual strongly desires the possession of another person. Second, the greedy individual creates a situation, like the lottery, in order to get the other person’s money or possessions. Third, the greedy individual gives the bystander hope of getting the possessions of the greedy individual, fully knowing that the bystander has not got a very good chance of obtaining the material possessions. Finally, the bystander usually ends up broke, while the greedy individual spends the gambler’s money, with little or no concern about the well being of the broke gambler. This is gambling in a nutshell.
Paul wrote, “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content” (1 Tm. 6:8)
