God’s word, our world part 2june 12, 2016
God’s word, our world – Gambling
Part 2, 1 Timothy 6:3-10
What is our world most popular fantasy?You know what I reckon it is: “what would I do if I won the Lotto”. I think this is interesting that perhaps our greatest fantasy is about gambling.
Gambling has wormed its way into our culture in way we don’t notice. In the US they recently were having discussions about the letting betting agencies become sponsors in sport. There was all this fuss about it, how it might affect the children but here in Australia our sports are completely in bed with the betting agencies and we never really bat an eyelid about it.It was only when Tom Waterhouse start presenting betting odds as part of the commentary of the games did people get upset.
But the church over the years has taken different stances on the subject. There was this story on the Drum (2012, ABC) about how the Catholic Church made 130m from pokies over the last financial year. Around the city there are 6 Catholic clubs with 1700 pokies between them. Making as much as 90% of their revenue from gambling they are in a tough spot. Don’t hear me bashing the Catholics, the church has a very loose connection with clubs and the Catholics work heavily with family affected by gambling and other addictions. It’s a big organisation and from what I understand the church is trying to reign them in, but doesn’t have much control over the situation.
I think of this compared to one of my experiences.
One Sunday after church, many years ago, a few people pulled out a pack of cards and started playing. One of the older ladies passed by and said “cards in church, my mother would be rolling in her grave”. I was totally confused, and had no idea what she meant but once upon a time the Methodists taught that cards were the devil. And like a gateway drug, playing cards would only lead to gambling.
So within the church sometimes there can be this huge difference in attitude to gambling but it begs the question what do we believe about gambling? What does God's word say?
For all the big issues the church has spoken out in public about gambling is not really one of them.We talk about sexuality, abortion, asylum seekers.But I can’t in my experience remember any noise about gambling.
The Bible doesn’t talk directly about gambling. The only places it was is the disciple casting lots over a replacement for Judas and the soldiers casting lots for Jesus’ clothing.
In the OT they would cast lots to decide something, or to seek God's decision in a matter.
“We—the priests, the Levites and the people—havecastlotsto determine when each of our families is to bring to the house of our God at set times each year a contribution of wood to burn on the altar of theLordour God, as it is written in the Law. Nehemiah 10:34
Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let uscastlotsto find out who is responsible for this calamity.” Theycastlotsand the lot fell on Jonah.
Jonah 1:7
People would use lots to seek the will of God or to make a hard decision, but involve God will in the outcome but this is not the same as what we have with our modern day gambling. And at the time there was no real equivalent to modern gambling systems, casinos, betting agencies.
So it’s not an issue the Bible speaks about directly. Which was where I have to fall into the area of wisdom and find some biblical principles that apply to our situation.
7For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 8Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich!You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!1 Corinthians 4
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.2And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourningand have put out of your fellowshipthe man who has been doing this?3For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit.As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesuson the one who has been doing this.1 Corinthians 5
Over realised escatology
For the Corinthians they though that the blessing of Christ – past, present and future were being realised now. That the blessing of heaven, freedom from sin and death, all came the instant you believed in Jesus. Which for them meant living life to the full sinning all you want. They thought they had arrived. That they were kings in their own little worlds – they were even proud of a man sleeping with his step mum.
They boasted in this, because this guy was really living out his freedom from sin and Paul comes to them and says, no. You have been lost in the drug of bingeing on all the promises and hope for the future, you have soaked in this freedom and tried to live it all in the moment. This was an addictive thing for the Corinthians, they found it hard to give this up.
Steve mentioned this idea to me the other day – that this is same thing is the power of gambling. When you are holding that ticket in your hand, you’re looking down at what could be if you win. What you see is all your hopes and dreams – past present future – being realised in one moment. Everything you could want for your life and the blessings of hard work; all the fruit and rewards of your life could be realise right here right now, if I’m willing to risk enough; if I’m game enough;got to be in it to win it.
Using 1 Corinthians 4-5 as wisdom the power of gambling is made clear
6But godliness with contentmentis great gain.7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.9Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trapand into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.10For the love of moneyis a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faithand pierced themselves with many griefs.1 Timothy6:6-10
It not that Gamblers are all immoral degenerates, terrible people. I don’t believe that gambling is this gateway to theft, debauchery and crime. I don’t think it’s helpful to characterise it like that.
But they have fallen victim to one of the oldest traps in the world. In verse 9Paul describes this desire for wealth as a trap.And this passage I think so perfectly describes the power of gambling. The bait is the prize: all that could be had, all that could be done, past, present and future. And like a fish that swallows the bait, then you’re hooked, you can’t get away from it anymore. And with gambling, the chasing of wealth is literally hooks people. We have all heard the stories of people putting thousands of dollars into the pokies, sometimes stealing from work to gamble more; re-mortgaging their house to put it down the slot.
And the image of bait of a trap works well for me. The pokies, the casino, the bet on your phone, is like a bear trap with a nice steak on it. You might get that steak, maybe you can peal it off without getting caught but the trap is designed to stop you from getting the prize. The trap is made to catch you. And so it is with gambling.
What does it lead to? Verse 9 says that it plunges people into ruin and destruction.
KeiranForan, an NRL player, made a multimillion dollar deal with Parramatta. Became captain, played for NZ, and was in great form at the start of the season. He then had a gambling related melt down, spending 75,000 in a day on his TAB account. He missed games, went to rehab, and now is off, injured, for the season. His life is filled with ruin and destruction.
In the US a lawyer, an educated intelligent woman, maxed out all her credit cards, was stealing from her client, all to play blackjack at a local casino. She spent 2 years in gaol, lost her licence to practise law. Her life is filled with ruin and destruction.
Let’s look at verse 10. The real ruin and destruction is that it leads people to wander from their faith. The chasing of wealth will lead you away from seeking God. A person cannot serve two masters, either God or wealth. Gambling, at its worst, has the potential to wreck people’s faith.
So where to from here? What should our stance be on gambling?Don’t hear me say that if you buy a lotto ticket or you occasionally put $20 on a footy game that you’re an immoral sinner and you need to repent. But what I will say is go in with your eyes open. The Scriptures show us that gambling can be a real trap. The prizes are the bait and like a fish once you hooked, you in real trouble. It clearly has the power to wreck a person’s faith.
We have the warning in Scripture, if you are gambling regularly, and it is taking up more and more of your spare time then consider talking to someone about it.
There are websites like and help lines1800 858 858.
But we should also be speaking out about this as a social justice issue. The poor in our society statistically spend 4 times more of their income on gambling than those more well off – it has often been referred to as a tax on the poor – with some of the biggest concentrations of poker machines being in low socio economic areas of Australia. Are we as a church saying anything about it?Are we speaking up for the damage it does to individuals and families?
MISSED A SERMON? SEE OUR PODCASTS AT PITTWATERCHURCH.ORG1