Gambling???????????

[mesue]

***Mod Hat On***
The Original Post was on gambling note political persuasion. Nor, is this a thread for rebuke.
And,as a gentle reminder A soft answer turneth away wrath and ...
[Bible]Colossians 4:6[/Bible]

My finance is in this debate at work that his co-workers say that it does not say in the Bible that it is not wrong to gamble. But he and I both know that somewhere in the scripture it tells that we should not be gambling. Where is that located?

***Mod Hat Off***

 

[TwinCrier]

my fiance and i buy a stratchie probably about once a month or so if we had to figure it out, to us its like spending money on the movies or a book, or going to the arcade, just spending some money to do something 'fun'...
Do you guys think this is wrong? Fors, against?
I don't think its wrong (obviously, thats why I do it) because I don't think spending $4 AU a month is bad stewardship of my money, especially when i think about how much money i waste on the movies etc... However i do disagree with addictive gambling like you can't stop... Same as my opinion on drinking alcohol, im ok with it (dont promote but...) but totally against getting drunk... Its the extremes im not a fan of...

But didn't every gambling addict start off the same way? Don't all alcoholics start off the same way? There was an anti-drug commercial that said "No one ever says, "I want to be a druggie when I grow up." And Christians are to flee temptation, and avoid all appearance of evil. Of all the richest people in the world, how many got rich by winning the lottery or playing blckjack? Is scratching a card more fun than a night out at a movie? Has anyone ever developed a movie addiction? I don't think you can make that camparison, it's apples and oranges.

 

[Ave Maria]

But didn't every gambling addict start off the same way? Don't all alcoholics start off the same way? There was an anti-drug commercial that said "No one ever says, "I want to be a druggie when I grow up." And Christians are to flee temptation, and avoid all appearance of evil. Of all the richest people in the world, how many got rich by winning the lottery or playing blckjack? Is scratching a card more fun than a night out at a movie? Has anyone ever developed a movie addiction? I don't think you can make that camparison, it's apples and oranges.

Well, my Grandma has played the horses at this place in town for the longest time. A "horse" is a little thing that you separate the paper on and you have to find double numbers of like 5's or 7's to get $5 back and 00 is a horse which gets you entered into a drawing for $100 just for your info so you understand what kind of gambling it is. It's basically like a scratch off ticket. She's also done those for years. But not once has she let this get out of control. I also know plenty of other people who have done scratch off tickets for years and never let it get out of control. My point is that I believe that most people can do it without letting it get out of control. Of course, it's a personal decision. I'm not telling anyone to gamble or not to gamble. It's probably best to avoid it because of the love of money verses and stuff that the Bible says but I honestly don't see it as wrong if you keep it under control. That's just my personal opinion.

 

[ZiSunka]

my fiance and i buy a stratchie probably about once a month or so if we had to figure it out, to us its like spending money on the movies or a book, or going to the arcade, just spending some money to do something 'fun'...
Do you guys think this is wrong? Fors, against?
I don't think its wrong (obviously, thats why I do it) because I don't think spending $4 AU a month is bad stewardship of my money, especially when i think about how much money i waste on the movies etc... However i do disagree with addictive gambling like you can't stop... Same as my opinion on drinking alcohol, im ok with it (dont promote but...) but totally against getting drunk... Its the extremes im not a fan of...

If you feel comfortable spending money on a "scratchie" that's up to you. We are not the people you need to convict on this. It sounds like you are trying to find a rationalization for what you secretly suspect is wrong. It's totally between you and God, but you have to be honest with yourself about what God really wants you to do with that money you are spending on scratchies.

And that really goes for all of us. Each one of us wastes money on something. It's between us and God, as long as it is not specifically forbidden.

I just hope that when we all get to heaven, we are not ashamed of the excuses we made for what we did with the money He gave us. And that goes double for ME!

 

[Ave Maria]

If you feel comfortable spending money on a "scratchie" that's up to you. We are not the people you need to convict on this. It sounds like you are trying to find a rationalization for what you secretly suspect is wrong. It's totally between you and God, but you have to be honest with yourself about what God really wants you to do with that money you are spending on scratchies.

And that really goes for all of us. Each one of us wastes money on something. It's between us and God, as long as it is not specifically forbidden.

I just hope that when we all get to heaven, we are not ashamed of the excuses we made for what we did with the money He gave us. And that goes double for ME!

Amen! I'm sure everyone of us at one time or another hasn't been the best steward of our money that we could be. I know I tend to waste my money on stuff every once in a while too. I rarely if ever buy scratch offs or do any other kind of gambling though. It just seems like you waste more money than you get back so I don't usually do it. My Grandma won $500 off of a scratch off this Summer though. That's the most she said she ever won. I think she only paid $7 for the scratch off. But regardless, you make a very good point. I think God wants us to be good stewards of our money and so therefore, we should try to budget it a little better.

 

[jenptcfan]

The first verse that comes to mind is "Thou shalt not covet." What is gambling other than the desire to obtain someone elses money?
He that hastens to be rich hath an evil eye, and considers not that poverty shall come upon him. Proverbs 28:22

What is going to work every day other than the desire to obtain my company's money?

 

[ZiSunka]

What is going to work every day other than the desire to obtain my company's money?

The desire to do something productive with your life--the desire to do something for the common good--the desire to help others---the desire to make the world a better place--the desire to give of yourself in a meaningful way---

There are a hundred better reasons to work than just the money. You should choose a career where the money is just the icing on the cake.

 

[TwinCrier]

What is going to work every day other than the desire to obtain my company's money?

The bible doesn't condemn work. It does condmen covetness.

 

[BT]

I was going to post an answer in this thread. But I don't have time. I just cashed my pay-check and I have to hurry out the door to the casino, before someone else gets my lucky slot machine. I'll be praying all the way there that God will let me win some money. Then mabey I'll be able to pay the bills that I can't pay now (because I lost the money to pay them at the track). Talk to you all soon.. probably tonight.. but mabey tomorrow if I lose my car and have to walk home.

 

[rural_preacher]

BT, thanks for a good laugh!

 

[BT]

What is going to work every day other than the desire to obtain my company's money?

It is obedience..

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

 

[jenptcfan]

It is obedience..

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

I'm teasing, folks!

 

[kyzar]

lol you tease you...
I'm not trying to rationalise my scratchie habit (oh yes a habit, if i dont get my monthly scratchie i will die!!! jokes)... ive just never thought about it as gambling... thanks for your input guys, i shall find more productive things to buy, now i wont buy any more $4 a month scratchies!

 

[Theofilus]

Poker:
You put your money on the table.
Someone gives you some pieces of paper.
Depending largely on what others have and what they do, you either gain or lose money.


Investing:
You put your money on the table.
Someone gives you some pieces of paper.
Depending largely on what others have and what they do, you either gain or lose money.

What's the real difference? What is investing other than a form of gambling? Or what is gambling other than high risk investment?

If we are going to condemn gambling, shouldn't we condemn all forms of gambling?

 

[Gold Dragon]

Poker:
You put your money on the table.
Someone gives you some pieces of paper.
Depending largely on what others have and what they do, you either gain or lose money.


Investing:
You put your money on the table.
Someone gives you some pieces of paper.
Depending largely on what others have and what they do, you either gain or lose money.

What's the real difference? What is investing other than a form of gambling? Or what is gambling other than high risk investment?

If we are going to condemn gambling, shouldn't we condemn all forms of gambling?

Some forms of investing (penny stocks, futures, etc) are much closer to gambling than they are to investing and should be cautioned against as violating Christian calls for stewardship. Other forms of investment are based on well researched information to build up capital for well run sustainable businesses that make positive contributions to society.

It is also interesting that you bring up poker. I've never played poker for money but I must say that the game seems to lose more than the average game when "fake money" is substituted. Probably because betting and risk is so pivotal to the game. My desire to play poker has never been that great so this isn't a huge deal for me. I'm a terrible bluffer.

 

[ZiSunka]

Poker:
You put your money on the table.
Someone gives you some pieces of paper.
Depending largely on what others have and what they do, you either gain or lose money.


Investing:
You put your money on the table.
Someone gives you some pieces of paper.
Depending largely on what others have and what they do, you either gain or lose money.

What's the real difference? What is investing other than a form of gambling? Or what is gambling other than high risk investment?

If we are going to condemn gambling, shouldn't we condemn all forms of gambling?

There is no real difference.

A guy a work with was "saving" for retirement by investing in the stock market. When we had that crash four years ago, he lost over $100,000! He gambled and lost. He has recuped about $20,000 of it through better investing, but he said it will set back his retirement at least five years.

 

[FranklinNoble]

There's a huge difference.

When you buy stock, you're buying a portion of a corporation. It's a real asset. It's no different than buying a car, real estate, etc.

Sometimes, these things increase in value. Sometimes, they depreciate at an alarming rate.

That doesn't mean it's "gambling."

When you play poker, you're not buying anything. You're gambling, and you're trying to take money from the other players at the table.