WHY I DO NOT GAMBLE

October 14, 2007 AM

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Sermon Outline

MT 7:12

INTRO: I recently drove across the state of Louisiana. I was shocked to see every little town with its casino. At breakfast one morning in Montgomery, Alabama Joyce and I listened to two couples discussing the pros and cons of the slot machines in Biloxi, Mississippi. Poker playing is now called a "sport" by the national media. Few states do not have a state sponsored lottery. The giant "power ball" lotteries gain national news attention. Office "pools" which bet on the outcomes of sporting events are part of today's accepted landscape. The amount of money involved in gambling in our Country is in the billions of dollars. Like so many of the moral and ethical questions of our day, gambling is cast in the light of the glamorous, the exciting, the fashionable. Why, then, in the face of all of this do I choose not to gamble?

1. TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION I HAVE APPLIED A NUMBER OF "TESTS"
   1. What is the "fruit" of gambling?
      1. Mt 7:15-20 - v. 20 is a principle to use in determining validity, usefulness
      2. varieties of studies/publications indicate gambling is addictive, preys on people with lower incomes, dramatically affects teens, often leads to dysfunctional family relationships and abuse, offers false hope
      3. should we, then, think of 1 Thes 5:21,22?
      4. by virtually any legitimate measure, gambling fails the "fruit test"
   2. Does gambling violate the "golden rule"?
      1. Mt 7:12 - someone always loses in gambling - you must want them to lose their possessions - is that, though, a valid expression of the golden rule?
      2. is there a sense in which gambling is covetousness? desiring another's
      3. Ex 20:17 - "...nor anything that is thy neighbours"
      4. gambling certainly fails the "golden rule test"
   3. Does gambling strengthen me against temptation
      1. Jas 1:13-15 - "...drawn away of his own lust..."
      2. 1 Cor 10:23 - does gambling edify, build me spiritually? or, does it place me in a situation in which I'm exposed to lust, to selfishness, to covetousness?
      3. the very basis of gambling places one in a temptation situation!
      4. gambling fails the "lead me not into temptation test"
   4. Does gambling represent good stewardship of possessions?
      1. Ps 50:10 - all that we have belongs to God and is from God
      2. 1 Chron 29:14 - all that we have is "Thine alone, a trust, O Lord ..."
      3. Lk 16:10-12 - Jesus taught faithful stewardship of our money as a test of our being entrusted with "true riches" - to risk possessions on the whim of pure chance, the turn of a card, the roll of the dice, etc. is not good stewardship
      4. gambling certainly fails the "stewardship test"
   5. Does gambling have a good report?
      1. Phil 4:8 - "...whatsoever things are ... of good report" - here the consideration is not of people, but of "things"
      2. it is an activity known to be addictive, wasteful, harmful to families, etc.
      3. it is an activity in which most of us do not want the preacher, the elders to participate - why? it does not have a good report, reputation - we don't want our spiritual leaders involved in such things
      4. gambling fails the "good reputation test"
   6. Does gambling compromise my influence for good?
      1. many, many people, even out of Christ, consider gambling to be sin
      2. if they know I'm engaged in gambling, how will I be able to approach them with the gospel? - if they know I am gambling, will they choose to engage in it and possibly be overwhelmed by it?
      3. 1 Cor 10:31,32 - how are we to give none offence? how are we to keep from leading another into sin? answer: (1) by learning to do everything to God's glory, (2) by not having my own interests always uppermost in mind, (3) by seeking the well being of others, (4) by desiring to do that which will work to the saving of others
      4. Acts 6:3 - men of excellent reputation - we must ask ourselves, "What is the basis for an excellent reputation?"
      5. gambling fails the "influence for good test"
2. THE CONCLUSION I HAVE REACHED?
   1. There is certainly more which could be said
      1. but such thoughts as these, in accumulation, are powerfully persuasive
      2. how much more would I need to convince me of my choice here?
   2. With an activity's failing so many such tests...
      1. I can only conclude that it is wholly inconsistent with Christian living
      2. I must, then, take into consideration the scriptural advice of I. Thes 5:21,22 and act thereupon

CLOSE: The pervasiveness of it, the social acceptance of it, the addictiveness of it are just some of the reasons why I believe gambling is one of the great and deceptive evils of our time. I beg your consideration of these things.

Cecil A. Hutson

14 October 2007