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What’s Wrong With Gambling?. What Is Gambling?. Dictionary.com To play at any game of chance for money or other stakes. Casino games Card games Sports betting Lottery Day trading. Gaming Industry Revenue 2007. http://www.americangaming.org/Industry/factsheets/statistics_detail.cfv?id=7.
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What Is Gambling? Dictionary.com To play at any game of chance for money or other stakes. • Casino games • Card games • Sports betting • Lottery • Day trading
Gaming Industry Revenue2007 http://www.americangaming.org/Industry/factsheets/statistics_detail.cfv?id=7 INDUSTRY 2007 GROSS GAMING REVENUES Card Rooms $1.18 billion Commercial Casinos $34.41 billion Charitable Games and Bingo $2.22 billion Indian Casinos $26.02 billion Legal Bookmaking $168.8 million Lotteries $24.78 billion Pari-mutuel Wagering $3.50 billion GRAND TOTAL$92.27 billion
Gambling Addiction National Council on Problem Gambling Problem gambling is gambling behavior which causes disruptions in any major area of life: psychological, physical, social or vocational. The term "Problem Gambling" includes, but is not limited to, the condition known as "Pathological", or "Compulsive" Gambling, a progressive addiction characterized by increasing preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop, "chasing" losses, and loss of control manifested by continuation of the gambling behavior in spite of mounting, serious, negative consequences.
Gambling Addiction According to recent research, about 2.5 million adults in America are pathological gamblers and another 3 million of them should be considered problem gamblers, 15 million adults are at a risk for problem gambling and about 148 million are low-risk gamblers. http://www.clearleadinc.com/site/gambling-addiction.html
What’s Wrong With Gambling? Those in favor of gambling say: • I’m not gambling the rent money. • It’s just for entertainment. • The stock market is gambling.
The Christian must not gamble because: • We are to work for our living.
Work For A Living Ephesians 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
Work For A Living Acts 20:34-35 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” 1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Work For A Living • What about the stock market? • Stocks are ownership stakes in a business. • Stocks are no more gambling than farming is. • What about interest? • Israelites weren’t take interest from a brother, but could from a foreigner. (Leviticus 25:36f, Deuteronomy 23:19-20) • Jesus in the parable of the talents encourages investing to receive interest. (Matthew 25:27)
The Christian must not gamble because: • We are to work for our living. • Gambling is a manifestation of covetousness.
Gambling is a manifestation of covetousness. Most people gamble because they covet. Webster's 1828 Dictionary COVET, v.t. 1. To desire or wish for, with eagerness; to desire earnestly to obtain or possess; in a good sense. • Covet earnestly the best gifts. 1 Corinthians 12. 2. To desire inordinately; to desire that which it is unlawful to obtain or possess; in a bad sense. • Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors house, wife or servant. Exodus 20. • How many casinos would there be if the possibility of making money was taken away?
Gambling is a manifestation of covetousness. Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 1 Timothy 6:6-10
The Christian must not gamble because: • We are to work for our living. • Gambling is a manifestation of covetousness. • Gambling harms somebody.
Somebody has to lose. Matthew 22:39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 5:42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. Ephesians 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
Somebody has to lose. Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Philippians 2:15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
The Christian must not gamble because: • We are to work for our living. • Gambling is a manifestation of covetousness. • Gambling harms somebody. • Gambling is disreputable and ruins our influence.
Gambling Ruins Our Influence Things associated with gambling: • The Mob • The Casino Atmosphere • Drinking • Foul Language • Scantily clad waitresses • Addiction
Gambling Ruins Our Influence Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.
The Christian must not gamble because: • We are to work for our living. • Gambling is a manifestation of covetousness. • Gambling harms somebody. • Gambling is disreputable and ruins our influence. Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
Be Saved Today! • Believe – John 8:24 • Repent – Luke 13:3 • Confess – Matthew 10:32-33 • Be Baptized – Mark 16:16 • Be Faithful – Revelation 2:10