Gambling

Here's my $0.02 worth on the topic of gambling. I am not sure if scripture is completely silent on gambling or not, so here is why I saying this. First of all, a majority of gambling takes place in casinos....ie riverboats, Las Vegas, Atlantic City(worldly settings), etc. The scriptures tell us to watch and pray, keep yourself unspotted from the things of the world, whereby through temptation, ye may overcome. It's not so much the gambling, per se, but the atmosphere that the gambling scenes have.
If you gamble, you do it in a "worldly" setting. I know we have to live in the world, but we don't have to put ourselves in places where temptations are all around us. Another thing is that we are to be providers for our household, first.If we take money that is for our children, and gamble on it, is this not wrong?? If we won't provide for our own, especially those of our household, we have done denied the faith, and our worse than an infadel. If you think it's okay to gamble, by all means, go ahead...it's not me to tell you what to do with your money. It's none of my business what you do with it, but for me, I stay away from such "vices".

Willis

 

If you are engaging in activities to increase the amount of the money, exactly how little probability of success is allowed before it is "wrong?" Or is any type of investing included here?

You just did. I am a strong opponent of hypocritical disclaimers ["I don't mean to be nosy, but....."]

 

What do you mean by "hypocritical"? I am just wanting to know for clarification. Thanks!!

Willis

 

I mean false. You said "It's not me to tell you what to do with your money," but you had already done so; or technically what not to do with it, which is a subset of the event in question.

 

Bro Alcott,

I did not sound hypocritical, IMHO. I was just telling everyone in here my "opinion". Of course, I did my best to back it up with scripture. I do believe it's wrong to gamble, but if anyone does, it's no skin off my nose. People will do what they want, regardless what I tell them. Jesus told the Pharisees that what they believed in was wrong but if they didn't heed to it, the ball was in their court, so to speak. I gave my "opinion", if you want to gamble, do it, if you don't, then don't(I don't want to come off "smart" with that, either). I would prefer that no one gambles, but they will have to live their life for themself, not me. I hope you understand what I am meaning by saying this. May God bless, Brother.

Willis