Religion & Spirituality > Christianity

Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

Daily Bible Lessons for You #3 ~ Gambling

When it comes to gambling, some people have viewed it as innocent harmless fun as long as it is done legally. While others have viewed it as addicting and probable cause for temptation and addiction. An example of legalized gambling is that of sponsored lotteries which generate revenue for programs that benefit the public.

Although the Bible has no exact mention of gambling that would be considered significant...it does give us God's perspective on the matter. It shows us how God feels about gambling from his perspective.

The bare truth of gambling, making money at the expense of others, contradicts the biblical warning to

"beware of the greed of all kinds."

(Luke 12:15) Yes, gambling is driven by greed. Gambling institutions promote big jackpots while downplaying low odds, knowing that dreams of wealth lead players to bet big at casinos. If we're going, to be honest too, gambling doesn't really help protect people from the act or behavior of greed but enables the desire to make easy money instead of earning and working hard for money.

Gambling is solely based on the inherent selfish goal of winning money that other players have lost. However, the Bible encourages us to

"seek the interest of others and not our own."

(1 Corinthians 10:24) This also applies to one of the Ten Commandments too, which can be found in (Exodus 20:17)

"You must not desire...anything that belongs to your fellow man."

When a gambler is intent on winning, they basically want others to lose money so they can gain and make a profit. It may not be the case, but in actuality, it is just so.

The Bible also cautions against viewing luck as a mystic force that might give us blessings. There were people in ancient Israel who lacked faith in God and began to "set a table for the God of prosperity." Some would ask if this dedication to the "God of Fortune" would be acceptable to God. Definitely not, our heavenly Father said to them:

"You have continued to do wrongdoing in my sight, and have chosen to displease me."

(Isaiah 65:11, and 12)

It is an undeniable fact that in some parts of the world, funds from legalized gambling have been used to pay for education, economic development, and other forms of public programs. However, the use of those funds does not change how they were obtained. Through the activities that promote and encourage greed and selfishness of getting something for nothing.

You may have wondered or even asked what negative effects can gambling have on its host.

The Bible warns that

"those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge men into destruction and ruin."

(1 Timothy 6:9) The practice of Gambling is rooted in greed, and greed is so scathing that the Bible lists "greediness" among some behaviors that should be avoided at all costs. (Ephesians 5:3) Greediness breeds discontent, leaving people unsatisfied with their financial status and robbing them of their happiness.

"A lover of silver will never be satisfied with silver, nor a lover of wealth with income."

(Ecclesiastes 5:10)

Lots of people are lured into gambling and have found themselves baited by a vicious gambling addiction. The problem has become so widespread, with millions of gambling addicts in the world. Some have gone to great lengths to satisfy their needs and habits by stealing, lying, and doing fraudulent activities just to support their addictions. Gambling has plunged addicts into debt or bankruptcy. In some cases, it has cost many their jobs, marriage, and or friendships. One proverb states:

"An inheritance obtained first by greed will not be a blessing in the end."

(Proverbs 20:21)

When we apply the Bible's guiding principles, it will help us or a person avoid the negative effects that gambling can have on life and happiness.

Top | Newest First | Oldest First

LadyGrace ·

I don't know who wrote "I know the book better than you do. And the thing that stands out for me is that God and Satan were not enemies in that book.", but they sure don't know scripture. God and Satan were enemies, because Satan made it so. I guess they never read the part where there was a war in heaven that Satan caused. We need to take a stand for what God's Word says. It doesn't matter how many times someone reads the Book of Job, if they are not a believer, they are not learning from the Holy Spirit, and their conclusions show it, not knowing God's Word.

ChristianDailyWord · 26-30, M

@LordShadowfire

I know the book better than you do. And the thing that stands out for me is that God and Satan were not enemies in that book.

I respect and totally understand that you may know more in the knowledge of account of Job based on your perspective, being that you read the book of Job three times, however, I'm just answering your question from my perspective as well. Regarding your second statement, even if they weren't enemies in this specific book, the Bible indeed mentioned that Satan rebelled against God since Genesis so they became enemies of each other from the start even though God did not create this lovely angel of his to be so defiant and rebellious. Satan chose that course of action in his life as God did say that along with free will in us, he also has given to the angels too.

Because why would God allow his enemy to hang out in his throne room and chit-chat about various humans?

God is the Father of fairness, he allows for his opposers to rebuttal and responds back, whether or not he agrees or disagrees with their standpoint.

No, Satan did not oppose God. Satan was not angry with God. He didn't even do anything to Job without God's permission, because he was God's faithful servant.

God described Job as a man who was "holding fast his integrity". (Job 2:3)
"Then the Sovereign Lord asked Satan,

"Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man on all the earth. He is blameless, a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause."

Despite feeling discouraged and not understanding he suffered, Job never wavered on the vital issue of loyalty. Satan deliberately sought to give Job the impression it was God who caused his affliction. If that doesn't sound like someone who is an enemy of mine, I don't know what else to tell you.

Satan challenged the way God exercises his sovereignty. Is it really possible for God to rule the universe by love? Or, as Satan implied, will selfishness always triumph in the end? God indeed allowed the Devil to involve Job as a test case, confident in the integrity and loyalty of His servant which proved in the end that Satan is a liar though.

With that being said, this example of Job helps us to maintain our integrity under any circumstances - even in the face of temptations, opposition, or adversity. Jesus even gave us reassurance in (Revelation 2:10)

"Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. Look! The Devil will keep on throwing some of you into prison so that you may be fully put to the test, and that you may have tribulation [trouble, distress, or oppresion]. Prove yourself faithful even to death, and I will give you the crown of life."

LordShadowfire · 46-50, M

@ChristianDailyWord

God is the Father of fairness, he allows for his opposers to rebuttal and responds back, whether or not he agrees or disagrees with their standpoint.

Thus proving my point. Satan did not approach God disrespectfully. He told him with respect for the royal office that he was wrong.

BlueSkyKing · M

@ChristianDailyWord

It’s unknown who wrote the Book of Job, but the author agrees with Job that God himself was guilty of the crime. In the final chapter of the book, the Lord rewarded Job’s “integrity,” restoring his health and wealth and giving him ten more children. (Job did not appear to grieve the death of his original children, only the loss of his belongings. The children were fungible commodities, replaceable property of the patriarch, disposable pawns in a deadly game.) It wasn’t just Job who knew that God was the evildoer. In the last paragraph, the writer tells us that friends and relatives came to comfort Job for the “evil” that the Lord had done to him.

Then there came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and they ate bread with him in his house; they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him. (Job 42:11)

Diotrephes · 70-79, M

@ChristianDailyWord The book of Job is an essay on the First Commandment, Exodus 34:11-16. Job was tested with many misfortunes to see if he would stay loyal and he did. Compare his situation with stories about Israel falling away and worshiping other gods such as in the story when Moses came down from the mountain and saw the people worshiping the golden calf that Aaron had built.

Compare and contrast the Noah and the Job stories. Job is focused on loyalty; Noah is focused on obedience. Job stayed loyal although he had reason to go down another path. Noah was given an impossible task that he had no clue as to how to get it done but he got busy and did it without whining. Noah is the only major biblical character that did such a thing. Even the Jesus character whined.

If you analyze the stories using the real Ten Commandments as a standard the stories will make more sense.

Diotrephes · 70-79, M

@ChristianDailyWord If you read the Bible you would know that the real Ten Commandments are found in Exodus 34:11-28. You have been brainwashed by silly Hollywood movies and ignorant preachers to believe the lie.

ChristianDailyWord · 26-30, M

@Diotrephes I respect your opinion. Be aware in mind though, that all of our Bibles are not the same. The majority read the KJV, some read the NWT, and I read the NLT. There are many different versions, some versions have taken things out or added in context so I cannot deny or agree on which one is the true one besides the one that was originally written in the language that most cannot translate or read which is Hebrew. When I make my posts, I try my best to stay neutral because there are so many different denominations of Christianity and we're all not on the same page when it comes to doctrines, traditions, customs, or context of timeframe. We all can't fully grasp the Word of God or in other words, fully understand the thinking of our Heavenly Father, no matter how many times we read up and down, back to front because we're all imperfect. However, we try our best to understand and get a picture of what He means or what He commands or expects of us. I do appreciate you, for sharing those scriptures, I'll gladly take a look into that, maybe I can expand my knowledge. I'm still young and learning, but I try to share what I've gathered from my perspective.

ChristianDailyWord · 26-30, M

@LordShadowfire But Satan never admitted that he was wrong, hence, why today, he is still influencing and causing destruction to humans, especially to those who are giving their exclusive devotion to God. If a child of yours questions your authority as a parent figure to them, more than oftentimes, it is not out of respect. Satan's motive and conduct tie into the reason he was kicked out of Heaven...because he rebelled. He aspired to be like God and he nurtured feelings of self-importance to the point that he coveted worship that belongs only to God. (Matthew 4:8, and 9) So, therefore, making himself a betrayer and enemy of God. His own, Father. As a result of his rebellion, he lured Adam and Eve into disobedience, which cause sin to rule over them, leading ultimately to their death and the death of future generations. His rebellion caused other faithful angels to turn their back on God and practice the opposite of God's Will. So for him to question his Father's authority was not something out of respect, it was to challenge and incite issues. Or as some people nowadays say, "He chose violence".

LordShadowfire · 46-50, M

@ChristianDailyWord Yeah, okay. A civilized debate in the throne room does not equate to him starting a revolution. It was an open discussion that led to a bet, which God took. That's the whole reason we're discussing this.

Diotrephes · 70-79, M

@ChristianDailyWord

But Satan never admitted that he was wrong, hence, why today, he is still influencing and causing destruction to humans, especially to those who are giving their exclusive devotion to God. If a child of yours questions your authority as a parent figure to them, more than oftentimes, it is not out of respect. Satan's motive and conduct tie into the reason he was kicked out of Heaven...because he rebelled. He aspired to be like God and he nurtured feelings of self-importance to the point that he coveted worship that belongs only to God. (Matthew 4:8, and 9) So, therefore, making himself a betrayer and enemy of God. His own, Father. As a result of his rebellion, he lured Adam and Eve into disobedience, which cause sin to rule over them, leading ultimately to their death and the death of future generations. His rebellion caused other faithful angels to turn their back on God and practice the opposite of God's Will. So for him to question his Father's authority was not something out of respect, it was to challenge and incite issues. Or as some people nowadays say, "He chose violence".

The God character is solely responsible for all of the evil and the Devil is just an innocent scapegoat. It is the God character who boasts about creating evil and having his evil angels kill people and cause all kinds of destruction.

ChristianDailyWord · 26-30, M

@Diotrephes If you say so and know so. No rebuttal from me. 🙂

MrBrownstone · 46-50, M

So no bingo night at church?

LordShadowfire · 46-50, M

Oh, yeah? Is that what God and Satan ruined Job's life just to settle a bet?

View 2 more replies »

BlueSkyKing · M

@ChristianDailyWord
Here is the Book of Job in a nutshell:

God: “Job is a good man. I will torture him to see if he stays good.”
Job: “Why is God punishing me?”
Job’s friends: “It must be your own fault.”
Job: “I am undeserving, but it’s not my fault.”
Elihu: “God is greater than all of us.”
God: “Yes, I am greater than all of you.”
Job: “You are powerful. I’m sorry.”
God: “Correct answer. I’ll stop torturing you now.”

That’s it. There is no moral lesson in those forty-two chapters. No answer to suffering. No reasons, no redeeming social value to the graphic violence. The point of the book is simply: “The Lord is powerful. He can make you suffer. Don’t ask why. Be faithful. Might makes right. God can do whatever he wants.

ChristianDailyWord · 26-30, M

@BlueSkyKing If that's how you see it, so be it. No arguments from me.

BlueSkyKing · M

@ChristianDailyWord Worst book in that book, but it’s mythology.

Add a comment...