HEBREW ISRAELITES CAMP TEACHINGS ON THE STREETS OF LONDON.
1 Comment
Be Aware of Gambling Addiction
"He that hastens to be rich hath an evil eye, and considers not that poverty shall come upon him." Proverbs 28:22 STATISTICS /FACTS
The Hebrew word for covet is chamad, defined in Brown, Driver and Briggs' lexicon as a "bad sense of inordinate, ungoverned, selfish desire." It is the same word used for "desire" in Genesis 3:6 - "when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired (chamad) to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat...." I. Get-rich-quick schemes are a hoax. A. They bring poverty, not wealth. Prov 28:22 (cp. Prov 22:16) "He that hastens to be rich hath an evil eye, and considers not that poverty shall come upon him." B. The divinely established means of "getting ahead" is by work. Gen 2:15; 3:19 Exo 20:9 2 Thes 3:10, 11 Eph 4:28 Prov 6:6; 12:11; 20:4 II. The greed (covetousness) that motivates individuals to additively gamble is sin. Ex 20:17 Prov 11:28; 15:16; 23:4-5 Gal 5:21 Eph 5:3-5 Phil 4:11-13 Col 3:5 1 Tim 6:6-11, 17-19 III. Out of control gambling is destructive. A. Spiritually. It affects our walk with the Most High. 1. It indicates a lack of trust in the Most High's ability to provide. Mat 6:25-34 Luke 12:15 Heb 13:5 1 Tim 6:6-9 2. True riches are spiritual and eternal. Phil 4:19 "riches in glory in Christ" Jas 2:5 "rich in faith" 1 Tim 6:18 "rich in good deeds" Eph 2:4 "rich in mercy" 3. We should look to the Most High in Christ (Messiah) as our Source of supply: Phil 4:19 Eph 3:20 4. Gambling addiction expressly denies the Most High's sovereignty and care. Mat 10:30 Prov 3:5-6) 5. A form of covetousness, out of control gambling violates the tenth commandment. Exo 20:17 6. Followers of Christ (Messiah) are called to a walk of holiness (separation from the world). Eph 5:3 1 Thes 5:22 7. Gambling can destroy contentment. I Tim. 6:6, 10 Col. 3:2 Jn 6:27 Matt. 16:26 B. Societal. Gambling addiction destroys families and communities. 1. Out of control gambling robs money from the family, for which parents have a responsibility to provide. 2 Cor 12:14 2 Thes 3:12 1 Tim 5:9 Prov 15:27 2. Out of control gambling distorts our love for our neighbor, exploiting the most vulnerable members of society: the poor. Phil 2:3-4 Zech 7:9-10 3. Gambling addiction is a bad example to others. 1 Corin 10:31-33 4. Gambling addiction can encourage stealing, which increases court costs; stresses out marital relationships by burdening finances ("He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house..." Prov 15:27); and forces reliance upon public assistance, bankruptcy, etc. C. Personally. Gambling addiction is self-destructive. 1. Gambling addiction destroys our work ethic. Gen 2:15; 3:19 Exo 20:9 2 Thes 3:10, 11 Eph 4:28 Prov 6:6; 12:11; 20:4 2. Out of control gambling is rooted in greed, the love and craving for money, which is "the root of all evil." Mat 6:31 1 Tim 6:10 3. Be aware that gambling can become addicting. The Most High wants us to be free! Rom 8:21 2 Corin 3:17 Gal 5:1, 13 1 Pet 2:16 2 Pet 2:19 HISTORY OF GAMBLING IN AMERICA: 1624 The Virginia Assembly decreed: "Mynisters shall not give themselves to excesse in drinking or yett spend their tyme idelie by day or night, playing at dice, cards or any unlawful game.". 1656 Card fiends in the Plymouth Colony were fined forty shillings (two pounds in 1661).[1] 1748 Benjamin Franklin helped organize a Pennsylvania lottery "to raise three thousand pounds for military supplies to defend Philadelphia against Frenchmen and Indians." 1765 The Stamp Act places a tax "upon every pack of playing cards and all dice... the sum of 1 shilling..." 1776 Congress organized a lottery of $5 million to rally a kitty for the war. [1] 1777 President Washington issued an order forbidding "all officers... and soldiers... playing at cards, or other games of chance... at this time of public distress men must find enough to do, in service of their God and their country, without abandoning themselves to vice and immorality." "...the commander in chief... forbids all officers and soldiers playing at cards, dice or any games except those of EXERCISE for diversion." [1] 1774-89 The Continental Congress issued orders to stop "extravagance and dissipation, horse racing, and all kinds of gaming or cock fighting." 1963 No state had a lottery. Only Nevada permitted casinos, though many states allowed betting on horse or dog races. 1975 The federal government allowed state lotteries to advertise on television and radio 1976 A national commission found 0.77% (1.1 million) of American adults were pathological gamblers. 1980 Commercial gambling casinos prohibited in every state except Nevada. Only 13 states had lotteries. Americans spent $17 billion on legal commercial gambling. 1987 U.S. Supreme Court ruled Native Americans could offer legal gambling games on reservations, without state regulation, if permitted anywhere in the state, in any form. (California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians). 1988 Congress enacted Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) to create orderly process for growth of Native American gambling establishments. 1976-1988 Casinos legalized in Atlantic City. The number of state lotteries doubled. 1989-1994 21 new states legalized gambling casinos legalized. 10 states authorize slot or video poker machines at racetracks, bars. 1995 A study found 5.4% of Iowa's adults (110,000 residents) were lifetime pathological or problem gamblers - up from 1.7% before riverboats came to the state in 1991. Americans spent $550 billion on legal gambling in 1995 (a 3,200% increase in 20 years!) 1996 President Clinton signed H.R. 497, the National Gambling Impact & Policy Commission Act to investigate gambling in America. Only Hawaii and Utah prohibited all forms of gambling. 37 states and D.C. run state lotteries. 28 states allow casinos. Gamblers legally bet over $586 billion annually. 1998 Over 40 riverboat casinos in Illinois, Missouri, Iowa. Nearly 50 riverboat and dockside casinos in Louisiana and Mississippi. Approximately 298 Indian casinos and bingo halls were operating in 31 states - up from 70 in 16 states in 1988. 48 states have legalized some form of gambling - lotteries, casinos, riverboat casinos, Indian casinos, video lottery machines, pari-mutuel betting (horse racing, dog racing, jai-alai). Today's Gambling News moreover... Bellevue Alert: Todays Deal of The Day... Sponsored Link Sat Oct 01 2011 16:09:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Photos: Luc Robitaille hosts celebrity poker tournament at MGM Grand... Las Vegas Sun Sat Oct 01 2011 16:09:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) US casino offers plastic surgery jackpot... Straits Times Sat Oct 01 2011 15:56:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Renovation of the Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa Nears Completion... PR-Canada.net Sat Oct 01 2011 15:32:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Suspected mastermind of Mexican casino attack arrested... TMC Net Sat Oct 01 2011 15:08:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Police find no sign of new casino... Bangkok Post reg Sat Oct 01 2011 14:43:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Renovation of the Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa Nears Completion... PR-USA.net Sat Oct 01 2011 14:13:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) South Shore Harbor Resort announces Wine & Dine Casino Night in League City... Houston Chronicle Sat Oct 01 2011 13:45:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Casino offers plastic surgery jackpot... Ottawa Sun Sat Oct 01 2011 13:34:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Casino offers plastic surgery jackpot... Toronto Sun Sat Oct 01 2011 13:29:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Body found near casino... Global Saskatoon Sat Oct 01 2011 13:14:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Margaritaville casino opens at Flamingo in Vegas... Honolulu Star-Advertiser Sat Oct 01 2011 12:28:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Mexico: Zeta Chief Involved in Casino Royale Arrested... Prensa Latina Sat Oct 01 2011 11:37:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Casino Time Online A Popular Past Time Today... AddPR.com Sat Oct 01 2011 11:36:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) More Entrepreneurs Investing in Lucrative Online Casino & Poker Software Solutions from Elite Gaming Software... Nations Restaurant News Sat Oct 01 2011 10:47:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Casino job-hunters in Ohio bet on skills coaching... WHIO Radio Sat Oct 01 2011 10:16:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Flamingo casino opens Jimmy Buffet?s new Margaritaville in Vegas... Gaming Today Sat Oct 01 2011 10:13:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Casino Offers Plastic Surgery Jackpot... Boston Channel Sat Oct 01 2011 09:57:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Cash Prizes at bet365 Mobile Casino... Online Casino Reports Sat Oct 01 2011 09:01:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Atlantic City Casino To Offer Plastic Surgery As Prize... ECanadaNow Sat Oct 01 2011 08:45:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) News powered by Moreover Technologies... [1] Longstreet, Stephen, Win or Lose: A Social History of Gambling in America. |
Archives
July 2014
|