Reasonable or Wrong?

Well it might not have been wise to try to sell the ticket since tktmaster frowns on that kind of thing.

As for going into a casino you had to gamble and it paid off for ya...sorta. I kinda look at all the stuff I have and money I have and think of it all as a loan from God. Would He want me to use that loan to glorify him, or use it just on me for my comfort. I believe all we have in this world is on loan to us from Him. Would you use a loan your mom gave you for something on what it might not have been intended for?

azwyld
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Alcott, you could have done a lot worse things with the money. In a moment of fleshly weakness, you made a bad decision which caused you to commit a sin (I am assuming we are in agreement that gambling is a sin). But, I get your point....was it a greater sin than trying to recoup your ticket money by scalping a ticket? Most of us Christians would not have a second thought about scalping a ticket, but we would rather be anathema than to walk into a casino. Ain't we strange creatures?

 

so are you asking us if you were wrong or just attempting to defend yourself if anyone says you were wrong??? I guess I'm confused here as to what your post was about since you didn't seem to like the answers given??

 

Alcott: The poster child for "The Ends Justify the Means" group!

 

Alcott,

It looks like a series of questionable decisions to me.

I think our behaviour is to above reproach.

You asked for opinions, so please don't be offended. I really can't see Christ either trying to scalp a ticket or trying to recoup His loses at a casino.

And no - if I were in those cities listed I really can't imagine even looking in the casinos.

I am no holier than anyone else - my spiritual weakness is a constant burden - but you asked for views on a particular situation and that is what I have tried to give.

 

Selling a ticket to someone who wanted to go for less than face value, I would personally find that an acceptable thing to do, Ticketmaster's opinion not withstanding. I'll get on a soapbox if we start talking about people who buy tickets just to scalp them. Can never get good seats...grumble...grumble...anymore.

Stopping at the casino...Stopping to take a break and spending 5 bucks to entertain yourself in the process. I just have a hard time faulting that. I look at gambling sort of the way I look at alcohol. A small amount, in moderation, seems OK. I used to not think this way. I thought any gambling would be wrong. Back in March, I went to Tahoe for my honeymoon. We stayed in a csino because we could get a good deal. On the way to the slopes each morning I would pass people on their way to the actual casino. I thought, Here I am spending $50 on lift tickets and another $30 on skis, all for my own entertainment. Would there really be any difference if I took that same money and played slots all day for my entertainment? Though it would not be enjoyable to me, I cannot see the difference. If you spent money you could not afford to lose, went over your self-imposed limit, or did other foolish things, then you would be getting out of the moderation category. But that would be true, too, of buying worldly things you cannot afford or other wasting of what we are given.

So, I would not feel bad.

 

If you are feeling guilty about it, then it was definately something out of your comfort zone. Did you think you might feel guilty before you did these things? If so, you shouldn't have went against that feeling.

 

I am going to say the truth here and not debate it. The fact is you asked for everyone's opinion. You don't have to defend yourself. But they have a right to their opinion. Myself I don't ask many questions because it sometimes hurts to hear the truth. Which I think alot of us could say is true. I just want to give you a couple of questions to think about.
1. Who gave you the money to begin with to buy those tickets?
2. Who gives you your job to go to work at everyday?
3. Who took you to that game safely to begin with?
4. Who provided the gas and the car to get to the game?
5. Who gave you the good health on that day to get there?

If any of your answers were God than I think you know the answer to your own question. Don't try to ease your conscience just ask for forgiveness.

 

Just so you know my stance...I don't pitty Ticketmaster if they lose a little *very little* to a scalper. I only mentioned that they frown on it as something not to do because if they were to have caught you, they would have fined you or something else...whatever they do when they find people doing that sort of thing.

I don't know that I'd be interested in scalping to recover my $$ anyways since

1)I don't go to many concerts - the ones I've been fortunate enough to go to the tks have been free or very little cost to moi, =o)

2)I think I would have just tried to give the tks away.

As for casinos yes I have been to a few and have gambled, but am thinking now that it's not for me, not my bag as it were. I'd still like to go to Vegas to see the pretty twinklies tho and maybe catch the circus/rides. =o)

azwyld
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I'm wondering where we get the idea that gambling is a sin. Can anyone so me Scripture that says so (and please don't site the money changers at the temple; that was usury, not gambling--there's a difference)?

I know some people gamble away their homes, life savings, etc. but does that make all gambling for everyone wrong?

 

I gambled for gas money going through Atlantic City once. I had $5 and needed $20. Figured the $5 would do me no good alone, so losing it wasn't a big deal. I put it on a game of blackjack, got my money and left, much to the anger of the other players. LOL I walked away FAST!
Given the same circumstances now I'd be less likely to do so. Losing even a penny or dime would go to directly and knowingly supporting the types of activities available and encouraged in casino settings, and that's not good.
That said, I used to LOVE the whole casino scene! Pretty buildings, cheap food, live entertainment, risk, fun. But as a Christian, staying away from such places is a good thing, as they scream out temptation! That may not be your weakness, but there's really no point testing it to see, or putting yourself in a position to find out your limits.
So while I don't think it was some horrid decision on your part or mine, both of us used poor judgment and placed ourselves in situations where the potential for temptation was much higher than normal, thus should be frowned on.

As far as your ticket, it would have been dumb to toss it and waste your money.

Gina

 

Proverbs 28:19-22 - "He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. To have respect of persons is not good: for a piece of bread that man will transgress. He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him."

Proverbs 13:11 - "Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase."

1 Timothy 6:6-11 - "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness."

Proverbs 20:21 - "An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed."

 

I am reminded of my sister-in-law who went with her sister to a casino in Tunica, Miss. last year. The well to do sister gave my sister in law $500 to gamble with. She won $1,000 so she now had $1,500, BUT, instead of taking that money and quiting, she kept playing and finally lost it all. She went in with $500 and came away with nothing. If she had stopped when she had the $1,500, she could have paid her sister back and had $1,000 for herself or her sister might have let her keep it all. But, she just couldn't quit until it was all gone.

I work hard for the living God has provided me. I'm sure he wouldn't be please if I acted stupidly or irresponsibly with it. If you lose, what do you have? A pocket full of lint. I don't have much money, and I sure ain't giving any of it away to a casino.