IS IT A SIN TO GAMBLE? Colossians 3:1-7

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1 Introduction: IS IT A SIN TO GAMBLE? Colossians 3:1-7 1.! Andrew J. Whitaker, Jr., a 55 year old president of a construction! company, won $315,000,000 in the Powerball jackpot in 2002.! a.! I saw Mr. Whitaker on TV when he announced his winning.! b.! He was accompanied by his wife and daughter.! c.! He promised he would give generous donations to churches.! d.! At the time of his win, he was already worth $17,000, ! Whitaker kept his promise to give money to good causes.! a.! He gave $14,000,000 to a charitable foundation he set up.! b.! He also gave ten percent of his winnings to churches. 3.! After this, it appears everything went downhill.! a.! Whitaker began to drink heavily, gamble and go to strip clubs.! b.! In 2003 thieves broke into his car and stole $545,000 in cash.! c.! In 2004 thieves stole $200,000 from his car; it was recovered.! d.! In 2007 thieves accessed his bank accounts and emptied them.! e.! His granddaughter s boyfriend died of a drug overdose in Mr.!! Whitaker s home.! f.! Three months later, his daughter died of a drug overdose.! g.! In 2007 Mr. Whitaker owed $1,500,000 in gambling debts to a!! casino in Atlantic City which he was unable to pay. 4.! Whitaker said: I wish I had torn up that ticket! 5.! Occasionally a lottery winner will invest his winnings, but stories! like Andrew Whitaker s seem to be the norm for those who win. 6.! Is gambling sinful according to the Bible?! a.! There is no place the Bible says: Do not gamble.! b.! Are there Biblical principles which make gambling sinful? (1)

2 Discussion: I.! WHAT IS GAMBLING?! A.! By definition, gambling is a wager or bet in which each player!! agrees to risk some material possession to other players in!! exchange for the chance to win the possessions of the other!! players without any compensation to the loser or losers.! B.! There are four essential elements in gambling:!! 1.! It is a game of chance with an uncertain outcome.!! 2.! Each player must risk something of material value.!! 3.! Each player agrees to risk his possession in order to gain!!! that of the others.!! 4.! Nothing of fair value is given in return for what is lost.! C.! Some examples of gambling are:!! 1.! Casino gambling: slot machines, roulette wheels, dice,!!! and card games.!! 2.! Racetrack betting on horses, dogs, etc.!! 3.! Lotteries.!! 4.! Charity and church sponsored bingo, raffles, etc.!! 5.! Poker games, office pools, etc.! D.! Some things are considered gambling, but really are not:!! 1.! Playing cards or other games for fun with no money!!! involved is not gambling.!! 2.! Some say everything in life is a gamble, confusing risk!!! with gambling.!! 3.! Farming or running a business is not gambling, but an!!! effort to produce goods to be sold for a fair price.!! 4.! Investing in stock is no different from part ownership in!!! a business.!! 5.! Buying insurance does not involve a wager and no one!!! gains at the expense of another s loss. (2)

3 II.! WHY IS GAMBLING WRONG?! A.! The Bible recognizes only three legitimate ways for money or!! property to be transferred from one person to another.!! 1.! One is paid for work to produce goods or services.!!! The laborer is worthy of his wages (1 Timothy 5:18).!!! Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him!!! labor... (Ephesians 4:28).!!!... 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 (1 Thessalonians 4:11).!! 2.! One agrees to a trade or fair exchange of possessions!!! (goods or money).!!! a.! Abraham bought a field and paid a fair price set!!!! by its owner (Genesis 23:1-18).!!! b.! A merchant sold his possessions to buy a pearl!!!! of great value (Matthew 13:45,46).!!! c.! Jesus disciples bought food (John 4:8).!! 3.! One chooses of his own free will to give possessions or!!! money to others.!!! It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).!!!... working with his hands what is good, that he may!!! have something to give to him who has need (Eph. 4:28).! B.! Gambling is motivated by covetousness (greed).!! 1.! The entire reason for gambling is a desire to gain the!!! possessions of others without giving fair value for them.!! 2.! Jesus warned: Take heed and beware of covetousness,!!! for a one s life does not consist in the abundance of (3)

4 !!! the things he possesses (Luke 12:15).! C.! Gambling violates the principle of good stewardship.!! 1.! A steward is one who is entrusted with the possessions!!! of another and must give an account for them (Matthew!!! 25:14-30; 1 Corinthians 4:2).!! 2.! Everything we have is given to us by God and one day!!! we must give an account to Him.!! 3.! A gambler risks losing that which God has entrusted to!!! him to use in His service.!! 4.! Donald Trump, a casino owner admits: People will spend!!! a tremendous amount of money in casinos, money that!!! they normally would spend on buying a refrigerator or a!!! new car.! D.! Gambling violates the Golden Rule.!! 1.! Jesus said:... whatever you want men to do to you, do!!! also to them (Matthew 7:12).!! 2.! If you would not want others to take your possessions,!!! then do not take theirs!! E.! Gambling has evil associates.!! 1.! Evil company corrupt good habits (1 Corinthians 15:33).!! 2.! Some of the evils of gambling are:!!! a.! Divorce: Nevada has the highest divorce rate in US.!!! b.! Poverty: 1 of 5 homeless people blame gambling!!!! as a contributor to their plight.!!! c.! Suicide: Nevada has the highest rate in the nation.!!! d.! Addiction: So many have become addicted to!!!! gambling that Gamblers Anonymous was formed.!!! e.! Prostitution: The Las Vegas Yellow Pages has 136!!!! pages of listings related to prostitution. Conclusion: 1.! A Christian who gambles is not letting his light shine (Matthew 5:16). 2.! One not a Christian must trust and obey to be saved (Mark 16:15,16).

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