(Galatians 5:19-21) “…and such like.”
A. “Gambling” = “to play a game for money or other stakes; to hazard, wager; to stake or wager in gaming; A transaction involving a risk or certainty.” [Webster’s]
B. John Waddey, “What’s Wrong With Gambling?” “It has been popularly defined as ‘getting something for nothing without rendering service or exchange of goods and is essentially stealing and a form of robbery.’…. Psychiatrists classify gambling in the compulsion category similar to multiple sex cheating, drinking, or drug addiction….habitual gambling is a mark of a disturbed personality, and undesirable character trait.”
C. Thomas Eaves, “Gambling, Living Soberly, Righteously, and Godly” “Gambling takes many forms: card games, dice, numbers, betting on elections, buying sweepstakes tickets, betting on horse races, slot machines, betting on sporting events, various types of sports pools, punch boards, bingo (for money or prizes), buying tickets in raffles, betting on recreational activities, matching for cokes, and even pitching pennies.”
D. Gambling is NOT “Anything involving chance”
1. Jackie Stearsman, “What About Gambling?” ”Most individuals can see the difference between the toss of a coin to determine ‘who will receive’ the football to start the game, and the toss of dice on a table for stakes of money. Gambling is the act of risking what is yours in order to get what belongs to another with nothing given in return.”
E. “Gambling is a matter of KIND, not of Degree”
1. “Gamblers Anonymous” (published by group of same name) “Any betting or wagering, whether for money or not, no matter how slight or insignificant, where the outcome is uncertain or depends upon chance or ‘skill’ constitutes gambling.”
a. The SIZE of the gamble does NOT change the fact that it IS gambling
b. “Legalizing” gambling does NOT make it right! LEGAL sin is STILL sin!
A. The word “gamble” is not in the Bible (“thou shalt not gamble” not in Bible)
1. A specific word or phrase does NOT need to be used for a PRINCIPLE to be taught and a PRACTICE to be condemned.
B. Several Reasons Gambling is WRONG:
1. Gambling is wrong because it takes and does not give
a. The gambling OPERATOR is not a giver, he is a taker.
2. Gambling is wrong because it violates the “Golden Rule” (Matthew 7:12) “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.”
3. Gambling is wrong because it is based on the “Iron Rule”
a. “Get all you can from others by hook, crook, or by whatever means are available” (2)
4. Gambling is wrong because it goes squarely against the First of all commandments -- Loving God Supremely (Matthew 22:37) “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
a. BOTH God and gambling are masters
5. Gambling is wrong because of the THREE motivations that keep it going
a. A covetous, greedy desire for gain at another’s expense
b. Its evil excitement
c. And its combativeness to be a willing winner with all others as reluctant losers.
6. Gambling is wrong because it goes squarely against the work ethic that we earn our bread by the sweat of our face (Genesis 3:19)
a. We are no longer to steal (gambling is robbery by consent or permission) (Ephesians 4:28) “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”
b. NO WORK = NO EAT is Paul’s directive (2 Thessalonians 3:10) “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”
7. Gambling is wrong because it sets an evil example before others
a. We are to be examples of that which is good (1 Timothy 4:12) “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (Titus 2:7-8) “In all good things showing thyself a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.”
8. Gambling is wrong because it is covetousness and selfishness gone to seed (Luke 12:14-16)
a. Paul refers to covetousness as idolatry (Ephesians 5:1-5) (Colossians 3:5)
9. Gambling violates Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
a. Gambling is a work of darkness --- NEVER a work of true light
A. Garland Elkins & Robert Taylor “DO NOT BEGIN with small bets or wagers as who pays for the cokes, games of heads or tails, the shooting of craps, betting on a golf score, or putting a dollar or so into the office pool over a sports event outcome. What is a little today may become a paycheck tomorrow or one’s own house and property on some distant tomorrow.” (2 Corinthians 6:14→7:1)