GAMBLING DEFINED American Heritage Dictionary: –To bet on an uncertain outcome, as of a contest; To play a game of chance for stakes; To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage or a benefit. World Book Encyclopedia: –"Gamblers usually bet money or something else of value as a stake on the outcome they predict. When the outcome is settled, the winner collects the losers stakes."
GAMBLING DEFINED Three elements witnessed in gambling. 1.The Uncertain Event. It is arbitrarily determined. 2.The Stake. Wager or bet that is deliberately chanced. 3.A Winner and Loser. In gambling – in order for one to win, another MUST lose!
Relevant Factors Around Unsavory Characters –1 Cor. 15:33, 34; 1 Thess. 5:21, 22 Addiction –1 Cor. 6:12 Risk –Ecc. 9:11
Root Sins in Gambling: Greed –1 Tim. 6:9-10; Heb. 13:5; Matt. 6:24 One cannot love his brother as himself –Matt. 22:39; Phil. 2:3-4 –Our money is used for four primary reasons: To supply personal and family needs. (2 Thess. 3:10; 1 Tim. 5.8) To contribute to Gods work on earth. (1 Cor. 16:1-3 / 2 Cor. 8:1-9:7) To help the poor and needy. (John 13:29 / Eph. 4:28 / 2 Cor. 9:6-15) To support our government. (Mat. 22:21 / Rom. 13:7) –Prov. 14:21, 31
Other Significant Factors: We are to be examples! (Matt. 5:14) The combination of all these factors: We should glorify God in everything we do!