Friday, February 25, 2005
Ought we gamble?
It is a important thing to check in. So here I am. I am not sure what I am going to cover tonight. I wrote a email asking about the truth of bible and playing poker. I am going to say this is how I am going to call it. I do not think the game of Poker is a sinful thing. I am not into making money out of it. From the emails I got on the issue I am reminded of the truth my money is to be used to honor the Lord. I want to honor the word and the truth is that the money that I want to use to play is not mine to use. It is the Lords money. Now if it was mine then I could do as I wish In a way if I take my rec money and go to a place and play poker it is not realty a sin. If you take money out of your living expense it is sin. I am not sure I think it is a good idea to gamble because it can lead to other things. I am not going to call it a sin on this blog but like I said last night Money is a good thing and we need to treat it right. Jesus said to lay up stuff in heaven. I think if we gamble then it is not the best thing to do with Gods Cash. I said we need to save it. If you want to make cash do it the old fashion way you save it and you invest it into a Roth. It is the best plan. So play it safe and do not play to make cash. Do not start. Make a saving plan and work toward the goals you want.
Here is a person that started and lost it all
One Woman’s Experience
At one time, her faith and family were the most important things in Maxi Chamber’s life. She was an elected city council member, business owner, and an outspoken witness for Christ.
But one day she won a simple game of bingo. Since she and her husband David were having some financial problems, the $500 enabled them to pay some bills. She didn’t realize that gambling was wrong and had never heard a sermon about it. Over the course of a year, what began as a once-a-week activity developed into an every-night habit.
Soon she was betting a hundred dollars here, and two hundred there. David grew ashamed and hurt, but Maxi couldn’t stop. She began frequenting a nearby Indian reservation casino, and on every trip to the grocery store she would spend twenty or thirty dollars on lottery tickets.
The children grew distant and depressed, and David grew increasingly angry. Because Maxi was gambling away the money needed for necessities, the family went without new shoes, clothes, or food.
Two years into her gambling, Maxi began to feel suicidal. She cried constantly, seldom slept, and began taking tranquilizers and antidepressants. Her losses became greater, and she began writing checks for much more than was in her account. She took out a loan, forging her husband’s name, to cover her losses.
Finally she lost the last of her last borrowed $10,000 at a casino table, and as she turned away the dealer shouted, “Better luck next time!” But Maxi’s luck was gone, and as she drove home she cried out to God for help. The next morning she cleaned the house of anything that suggested gambling, and, sitting down with her checkbook, she totaled up her damages. At length, she had to confess to David.
“David,” she said, “I have something to tell you.” His body tensed. “You have every reason to divorce me,” she continued. “No one would have put up with what you’ve endured over the last three years. There are no excuses for what I’m about to tell you.”
David wrapped his arms around Maxi, and they sobbed together. But the injuries were too great, and the couple divorced with the three sons choosing to live with their father. Slowly Maxi Chambers is rebuilding her life, reading the Scriptures and staying close to the Lord and to her church. And she has a mission in life now—to warn everyone she can of the subtle dangers of the habit that almost destroyed her.*
* Maxi Chambers, “Gambling With My Life,” Christian Reader, July/August 1997, 69–73.
Morgan, R. J. (2000). Nelson's complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed.) (Page 335). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Here is a person that started and lost it all
One Woman’s Experience
At one time, her faith and family were the most important things in Maxi Chamber’s life. She was an elected city council member, business owner, and an outspoken witness for Christ.
But one day she won a simple game of bingo. Since she and her husband David were having some financial problems, the $500 enabled them to pay some bills. She didn’t realize that gambling was wrong and had never heard a sermon about it. Over the course of a year, what began as a once-a-week activity developed into an every-night habit.
Soon she was betting a hundred dollars here, and two hundred there. David grew ashamed and hurt, but Maxi couldn’t stop. She began frequenting a nearby Indian reservation casino, and on every trip to the grocery store she would spend twenty or thirty dollars on lottery tickets.
The children grew distant and depressed, and David grew increasingly angry. Because Maxi was gambling away the money needed for necessities, the family went without new shoes, clothes, or food.
Two years into her gambling, Maxi began to feel suicidal. She cried constantly, seldom slept, and began taking tranquilizers and antidepressants. Her losses became greater, and she began writing checks for much more than was in her account. She took out a loan, forging her husband’s name, to cover her losses.
Finally she lost the last of her last borrowed $10,000 at a casino table, and as she turned away the dealer shouted, “Better luck next time!” But Maxi’s luck was gone, and as she drove home she cried out to God for help. The next morning she cleaned the house of anything that suggested gambling, and, sitting down with her checkbook, she totaled up her damages. At length, she had to confess to David.
“David,” she said, “I have something to tell you.” His body tensed. “You have every reason to divorce me,” she continued. “No one would have put up with what you’ve endured over the last three years. There are no excuses for what I’m about to tell you.”
David wrapped his arms around Maxi, and they sobbed together. But the injuries were too great, and the couple divorced with the three sons choosing to live with their father. Slowly Maxi Chambers is rebuilding her life, reading the Scriptures and staying close to the Lord and to her church. And she has a mission in life now—to warn everyone she can of the subtle dangers of the habit that almost destroyed her.*
* Maxi Chambers, “Gambling With My Life,” Christian Reader, July/August 1997, 69–73.
Morgan, R. J. (2000). Nelson's complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed.) (Page 335). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
