View source for The Spirit of Gambling

Luck and gambling go together, because chance inhabits both. <span style="color:darkred">"The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites"</span style="color:darkred"> (Isaiah 33:14). With the world, the uncertainty of ill or loss is mixed with the chance of benefit or advantage. "13 <span style="color:darkred">Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: </span style="color:darkred"> 14 <span style="color:darkred">Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. </span style="color:darkred"> 15 <span style="color:darkred">For that ye ought to say, If the LORD will, we shall live, and do this, or that"</span style="color:darkred"> (James 4:13-15). Sadly, the spirit of gambling can be seen in all parts of human endeavor, because gambling is a fundamental violation of the Law of Love, which Jesus taught. "36<span style="color:darkred"> Master, which is the great commandment in the Law? </span style="color:darkred"> 37 <span style="color:darkred">Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. </span style="color:darkred"> 38 <span style="color:darkred">This is the First and Great Commandment. </span style="color:darkred"> 39 <span style="color:darkred">And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. </span style="color:darkred"> 40 <span style="color:darkred">On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the prophets"</span style="color:darkred"> (Matthew 22:36-40). Since the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2) mandates a supreme love for God and a love for our neighbour that is equal to the consideration that we ought to give to ourselves, then gambling violates the Law of Love because it only allows or enables the gain of one party at the expense of another. <span style="color:darkred"> "We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil"</span style="color:darkred"> (Proverbs 1:13). And, <span style="color:darkred">"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"</span style="color:darkred"> (1Timothy 6:10). [For a fuller explanation of the Law of Love, read Charles G. Finney's "'''[[The Law of God, No.1]]'''"  and "'''[[The Law of God, No. 2"]]'''  of "'''[[The Oberlin Evangelist"]]''' - 1839.]

By far, it is more important that we seek the blessing of the LORD, than we seek by gambling and chance the luck of the world. "3 <span style="color:darkred">For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked... </span style="color:darkred"> 5 <span style="color:darkred">They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men... </span style="color:darkred"> 7 <span style="color:darkred">Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. </span style="color:darkred"> 8 <span style="color:darkred">They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. </span style="color:darkred"> 9 <span style="color:darkred">They set their mouth against the Heavens, and their tongue walketh through the Earth... </span style="color:darkred"> 12 <span style="color:darkred">Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches... </span style="color:darkred"> 16 <span style="color:darkred">When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; </span style="color:darkred"> 17 <span style="color:darkred">Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. </span style="color:darkred"> 18 <span style="color:darkred">Surely Thou didst set them in slippery places: Thou castedst them down into destruction. </span style="color:darkred"> 19 <span style="color:darkred">How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors... </span style="color:darkred"> 23 <span style="color:darkred">Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand. </span style="color:darkred"> 24 <span style="color:darkred">Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory" (Psalm 73: 3, 5, 7-9, 12, 16-19, 23-24).


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