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Overcoming Worldliness

Overcoming Worldliness. GAMBLING. Labor, not Lottery. God planted a garden with ample provisions that man was to tend and keep (Gen. 2:8, 15-18) Entrance of sin: Ground cursed Man would eat by sweat of brow (Gen. 3:17-19). 2. Gift of God : Labor & the Ability to Enjoy its Fruit.

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Overcoming Worldliness

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  1. Overcoming Worldliness GAMBLING

  2. Labor, not Lottery • God planted a garden with ample provisions that man was to tend and keep(Gen. 2:8, 15-18) • Entrance of sin: Ground cursed • Man would eat by sweat of brow(Gen. 3:17-19) 2

  3. Gift of God: Labor & the Ability to Enjoy its Fruit Eccl. 5:18-20:18 Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and toenjoythegoodofallhislaborin which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; forit is his heritage. 3

  4. Gift of God: Labor & the Ability to Enjoy its Fruit Eccl. 5:18-20:19 As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, toreceivehis heritage andrejoicein his labor—this is thegift of God. 20 For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, becauseGod keeps him busywith thejoy of his heart. 4

  5. Our Concern Today • How one chooses to obtain, use and “enjoy the good of all his labor” • The priority being placed on material possessions(Matt. 6:24, 33) 5

  6. Do not Trust in Wealth(Matthew 6:21) • Psa. 62:10:“Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery;If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” • 1 Tim. 6:17:“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor totrustin uncertain riches butin the living God,who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” 6

  7. Do not Trust in Wealth(Matthew 6:21) • Rather than be content, many are minded to be rich, and… “fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.”(1 Tim. 6:9) 7

  8. The Wisdom and Welfare of Labor • Prov. 12:11-12:“He who tills his land will besatisfied with bread, but he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding. The wickedcovetthe catch of evil men, but the root of the righteous yields fruit.” 8

  9. The Vanity of Gambling • Eccl. 5:10:“He who loves silverwill not be satisfiedwith silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.” 9

  10. Gambling Invites Impatience, not Contentment(1 Tim. 6:6-8) • Gambling’s constant appeal is raw greed: It is material, fleshly, worldly, profane and passing (Heb. 11:25) • Gambling’s hope is false and futile • Gambling deceives and plunges millions into sinful, addictive behavior 10

  11. Popularity of Gambling • Costly and Convenient • $482 billion wagered in 1994 • 2002 Super Bowl: $4 billion wagered • Legal wagering on NCAA men’s basketball tourney surpasses Super Bowl • Internet: $6 billion revenue in 2003; estimated to be $17 billion by 2009 11

  12. Culture of Gambling(Prov. 1:15-16) • In 1910, virtually all forms prohibited • America’s pastime(14% never gambled) • 2003: 3 times more Americans visited casinos than baseball games • 2003: Spent more on casinos than amusement parks and movies combined • 50% played the lottery in 1998 • “Harmless diversion”

  13. What is Gambling? • Not merely risk,Eccl. 9:11 • “to play at any game of chance for stakes… to stake or risk money, or anything of value, on the outcome of something involving chance…bet; wager”(Random House College Dictionary, p. 542) • Two elements:Chance+Wageron the outcome of that chance 13

  14. What is Gambling? • Normal risk of business is not gambling as we are discussing it • Farming has risks (weather, pests, disease, weeds, etc.) • Farmer minimizes risk by intelligent planning, careful calculations, hard work and prayer! • His profit is not at the expense of others, and risk is not contrived 14

  15. What is Gambling? • A wager is made whereby one stands to gain at the loss of others • Risk is engineered into the game • Object is to win while others lose • Winnings once belonged to the losers • It is not a “victimless” activity in which “nobody gets hurt” 15

  16. Legal Forms of Gambling in the State of Washington • horse racing • punchboards and pulltabs • fund raising eventssuch as casino nights, bingo, raffles, amusement games • contests of chance operated bycharitable and non-profit organizations • card rooms • the lottery • casinos and bingo halls (Washington State Council on Problem Gambling, http://www.wscpg.org/index.html)

  17. What is Gambling? • Problem of identity • Gambling industry prefers “gaming” • “Fund raising, revenue enhancement, recreation, entertainment, disease” 17

  18. What is Gambling? • Problem of immorality • Work of the flesh(Gal. 5:21) • Fulfillment of lust(1 Jno. 2:15-17) • Not holy living(1 Pet. 1:15-16) 19

  19. Sinful Traits of Gambling • Covetousness,Lk. 12:15 (Rom. 13:9) • Covet (epithumeo): “to fix the desire upon …to long for, lust after, covet” (Vine, 136) • Covetousness (pleonexia): lit., “a desire to have more” (Ibid.); Eager for more • Not to be named among saints,Eph. 5:3 20

  20. Sinful Traits of Gambling • Covetousness,Lk. 12:15 (Rom. 13:9) • Idolatry: Desire is fixed on riches and not on God,Eph. 5:5 • Gambler worships the false god of money … put it to death!Col. 3:5-6 21

  21. Sinful Traits of Gambling • Selfish endeavor that does not love neighbor as self,(Matt. 22:39) • Love does not harm its neighbor, but gambling does,Rom. 13:10 • Gambling is selfish ambition that esteems self above others,Phil. 2:3 (2 Tim. 3:2) 22

  22. Sinful Traits of Gambling • Waste of material blessings,Luke 16:10-12 • Rejects responsibility of stewardship in pursuit of the elusive pot of gold • Serving riches shows hate for God,Luke 16:13 23

  23. Sinful Traits of Gambling • Evil companions,James 3:11-12 • Greed, covetousness, dishonesty • Domestic violence, child abuse and broken homes, adultery • Theft, extortion, fraud, organized crime and prostitution • Alcohol, drugs, murder and suicide 24

  24. Sinful Traits of Gambling • Evil companions,1 Cor. 15:33 • Destroys credibility, honesty, reliability and family stability, regret, sorrow, pain… • “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!” “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble.”(Prov. 15:16) 25

  25. Sinful Traits of Gambling • Burden on society,Prov. 14:34 • Gambling is generally viewed as profitable to society; Regulated and taxed by government • Offered as “revenue enhancement” for education, etc. 26

  26. Sinful Traits of Gambling Honolulu Police Department: “We are convinced that gambling exploits those who can least afford it, and undermines community values. For example: 1. 15.4 million Americans are problem or pathological gamblers, with more than 50 percent between 12 to 18 years of age. 27

  27. Sinful Traits of Gambling “2. Social and economic costs include unemployment benefits, welfare benefits, physical and mental health problems, theft, embezzlement, bankruptcy, suicide, child abuse and neglect, domestic abuse, divorce, incarceration, work absences, and homelessness.” (Honolulu Police Department Website http://www.honolulupd.org/nv/gamblingposition.htm)

  28. Sinful Traits of Gambling • Burden on society,Prov. 14:34 • Real cost: $3 of taxpayers’ money for every $1 raised through gambling! • Christians must be salt and light,Matt. 5:13-16 29

  29. Sinful Traits of Gambling • Deceptive,James 1:16 • “It’s harmless entertainment” • “It’s a legal business enterprise” • “It’s for a good cause”(Rom. 3:8) • “It’s only wrong if you can’t afford it”(Prov. 14:12) • “It won’t cost me my soul”(1 Cor. 6:9-10) 31

  30. Sinful Traits of Gambling • Deceptive,Jas. 1:16 (Heb. 11:25) • Selfish and exploits lack of self-control “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.”(2 Pet. 2:19) 32

  31. Sinful Traits of Gambling “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart ofunbeliefin departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you behardenedthrough thedeceitfulness of sin.”(Heb. 3:12-13) 33

  32. Seduction of Gambling(1 Cor. 15:33-34; Eph. 5:5-7) • Present in the electronic media • “World Poker Tour” (Travel Channel) • “World Series of Poker” (ESPN) • “Celebrity Poker Showdown” (Bravo) • “The Casino” (Fox) “Online Gambling and Casino Reviews” http://gamblinglinks.com/nw_tv.html 34

  33. Seduction of Gambling(1 Cor. 15:33-34; Eph. 5:5-7) • Present in the electronic media • Internet gambling has exploded • 73 million (up 20 million in 5 years) will visit online casinos an average of 6 times annually, losing billions of dollars 35

  34. Seduction of Gambling(1 Cor. 15:33-34; Eph. 5:5-7) • Present on high school campuses • Teenagers gamble sooner than they smoke and drink (University of Minnesota, 1998) • 87% gambled for money (’96 Conn. study) • 40% involved in some form of state-sanctioned gambling 36

  35. Seduction of Gambling(1 Cor. 15:33-34; Eph. 5:5-7) • Present on college campuses • One Indiana U. junior lost $55,000 (mostly online poker) (Sports Illustrated, May 30,’05) • 85% involved in some form of gambling (23% on weekly basis) (1991 study) • 72% college football and basketball players while in college (Univ. of Michigan, 1998) • 672,000 students “addicted” in 1997 37

  36. Seduction of Gambling(1 Cor. 15:33-34; Eph. 5:5-7) • Present in many homes • As close as the Internet and TV! • Wastes money, time and energy • Destroys trust and security • Often leads to debt, despair, divorce, etc. 38

  37. Seduction of Gambling(1 Cor. 15:33-34; Eph. 5:5-7) • Present at the workplace • Office “pool” on the big game • Establishes a pattern of acceptance • Lessens resistance to other forms • “If a little gambling is okay, then what’s wrong with more?” • Social gambling is defended by an appeal to consistency and as “harmless fun” 39

  38. Seduction of Gambling(1 Cor. 15:33-34; Eph. 5:5-7) • Present in churches • Christians approving of and participating in lotteries, charity raffles and bingo, casinos… • Increasingly comfortable with gambling • Increasingly intolerant of reproof and rebuke • Covetous behavior should “not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints”(Eph. 5:3) 40

  39. The Sin of Gambling • Encourages laziness and lust “The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. He covets greedily all day long, but the righteous gives and does not spare.” (Prov. 21:25-26) 41

  40. The Sin of Gambling • Discourages labor and encourages “get rich quick” thinking “In all labor there is profit, but idle chatter leads only to poverty.”(Prov. 14:23) 42

  41. The Sin of Gambling • Discourages labor and encourages “get rich quick” thinking “He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough! A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.”(Prov. 28:19-20) 43

  42. The Sin of Gambling • Discourages labor and encourages “get rich quick” thinking “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.”(Prov. 21:5) 44

  43. The Sin of Gambling • Encourages greed and discontentment • Gambling thrives on constant desire for more,1 Tim. 6:9-10 • Be content, not covetous(Heb. 13:5) • Coupled with godliness(1 Tim. 6:6-8) • Faith in Christ’s provisions(Phil. 4:11-13; Matt. 6:33) 45

  44. The Sin of Gambling • Encourages a “nobody gets hurt” mind set • A selfish heart does hurt others and itself! • “Lovers of themselves” and “lovers of money” are truly “unloving”(2 Tim. 3:2-3) • “Lovers of pleasure” rather than “lovers of God” (2 Tim. 3:4) 46

  45. The Sin of Gambling • Encourages reckless stewardship • Shows one is unworthy of the true riches(Luke 16:9-12) • Trust in money will leave you bankrupt on the Day of Judgment(Luke 16:13) 47

  46. Beware of Gambling! “A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him.”(Prov. 28:22) • Denying self, we must follow Jesus… “…as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul”(1 Peter 2:11) 48

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