THE MORAL ISSUE OF GAMBLING PART 5 OF 9

Text- 1 Timothy 6:6-11

Introduction

Tonight I would like to continue our study on the topic of Biblical Morality.

Our text this evening is found in 1 Timothy 6:6-11 and the subject I would like us to consider is "Gambling."

A corporal was reporting to a new regiment and brought with him a letter from his old captain. It said, "This man is a great soldier, and he would be even better if you could cure him of his constant gambling."  The new commander looked at him sternly and said, "I hear you are an chronic gambler.  I don't approve and believe that it is bad for discipline.  What kind of things do you bet on?"  "Practically anything, sir," the corporal replied.  "If you'd like, I'll bet you my next month's pay that you've got a strawberry birthmark under your right arm."  The Commanding Officer snapped, "Put down your money!"  Then took off his shirt to prove that he didn't have a birthmark and then immediately put the money in his pocket.  As soon as the corporal left the room, the C.O. got on the phone to the other captain and bragingly said, "That corporal of yours won't be in a hurry to make a bet after what I just did to him."   "Oh no, I wouldn't be too sure of that," said the captain mournfully.  "Just before he left here he bet me $20 to $200 that within five minutes after reporting for duty he'd get you to take off your shirt."

Gambling is one of the most serious problems our nation faces today, yet pastors, churches and Christians in general have pretty much remained silent
on the subject.

The gambling business is dominated by the major crime syndicates and its annual revenue is estimated to be as much as a half trillion dollars.

In our society today it is believed that there is a higher percentage of gambling addicts than there are alcoholics.

Look Magazine estimated that there are as many as 6 million compulsive gamblers in the United States today.

However, gambling in one form or another has become a daily routine for literally tens of millions of people in America today.

Psychologists say that these people are plagued by many problems including, total obsession, so that nothing else and no other people matter to them, they live in a fantasy dream world, are unable to feel for others, and they lie and steal.

Nearly every state in America today has a state run lottery which raise only about 3 percent of the total state revenue.

Those who are poor and have little already spend a larger proportion of their income on these lotteries than those who are well off.

And the concept that legalizing gambling would one day hurt or put organized crime out of business has also proven to be far from the truth.

Tonight I would like us to examine seven dangers concerning gambling.