GAMBLING Why is it so wrong?

QUALIFIED AND UNQUALIFIED RISKS Qualified Risks 1.Buying a business after examining the books 2.Driving at a safe speed 3.Crossing the road after looking both ways 4.Investing a prudent amount on the stock market after considering the shares concerned Unqualified Risks 1.Buying a business without a thought 2.Driving recklessly 3.Crossing the road without looking 4.Investing most of your savings on the stock market or investing without care

GAMBLING DEFINITION

An unqualified risk which involves a game whereby people play with money knowing that the winnings will be used to provide someone with a substantial prize.

TYPES OF GAMBLING 1.National lottery 2.Scratch cards 3.Bingo 4.Raffle tickets 5.Playing cards 6.Casinos 7.Betting i.e. horse racing 8.Football pools 9.One arm bandits

TRADITIONALLY BEEN REGARDED AS A SOCIAL EVIL “Gambling is the child of avarice, the brother of iniquity, and the father of mischief” George Washington

THE BIBLE What does it say?

GAMBLING BREAKS THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 1.1 st Commandment,Thou have have no other gods before me. 2.The 8 th Commandment, Thou shalt not steal. 3.The 10 th Commandment, Thou shalt not covet.

GAMBLING BREAKS SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES We obtain money by hard work not by the laws of chance 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

GAMBLING BREAKS SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES Looking to riches for satisfaction is untrustworthy Proverbs 23:5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

GAMBLING BREAKS SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES It is wrong to love money 1Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

GAMBLING BREAKS SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES It is wrong to make money out of other people’s misfortune This is known as extortion

PROOF TEXTS Ecclesiastes 4:1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

PROOF TEXTS Amos 2:6 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes

USURY OUTLAWED This was the charging of very high rates of interests to the poor who needed the money badly Deuteronomy 23:19 Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:

WHAT HAS EXTORTION GOT TO DO WITH GAMBLING? 1.The people who gamble the most often have the least money 2.Gambling is highly addictive 3.The winner makes money out of people who have robbed from their families to play the game

GAMBLING BREAKS SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES The Christian is to trust God not chance to have his needs met Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

IN SUMMARY 1Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.