gambling

[member]

Hi Mike. I was just wondering if the Bible says anything about gambling. I think I have a problem with this sometimes. I always have the urge to go and do this. And as you may presume, it is driving me down to almost being broke. I don't want to do this, but I always seem to go and gamble. I am not someone who has money to even waste on this. It puts me behind on bills, and I am always like I will pay it with the next paycheck I get and it goes from there. The bills just pile up. I was wondering just about any advice you can give me. I just don't know what to do. I know I need to stop gambling but what can I do to get those thoughts away from my brain. Please help. Thanks.

[Mike Miller]

Hey, friend. The Bible doesn't say anything about gambling, but it is replete with words about financial stewardship and covetousness. For one thing, anything that causes you to be late in your bills brings dishonor to God. Gambling also keeps you from contributing to the cause of Christ. Why give money to casinos when mission work is being defunded because of the economy? This is bad stewardship.

Covetousness is also at work, because you want more money (even though you don't get any from gambling--it's very deceptive). At its heart covetousness comes from not being content in God. In Philippians 4, Paul speaks of being able to handle poverty and plenty because, he says, "I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. . . . I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

Therefore, I see the root of your problem in your relationship with Christ. He is not enough for you. You want Jesus and something else. For many people, this lack of contentment manifests itself in longing for a better career, more possessions, sex, drugs, pornography, or a host of things. In you, it is displayed in your compulsion to gamble. However, if you can focus on your relationship with Jesus--walking with Him daily, having a vibrant prayer and worship life, serving Him--then you will find that Jesus satisfies your every longing. I think gambling hotlines and things like those are good, but the fact is, there is some kind of void in your life that you are not allowing Jesus to fill. Turn to Him, cry out to Him, confess your sin and ask for His help. Throw yourself on Him daily. Then, you should start to see Him filling that void in a way that gambling will never do.

And if you ever want to talk, please call me. I will always keep this confidential, and I want to help. I've also found that it helps to have someone who has had similar struggles that you can reach out to. I'd love to connect you with someone. Just let me know.

[gparker]

Hi,
Years ago I lived by the Fair Grounds. Several of my friends went there so I got caught up in the excitement and went. Sometimes I came home with a few bucks, most times didn't. I knew deep down I shouldn't be doing it but, I didn't see much harm in it and so like all the other things in my life that I knew I shouldn't be doing I just kept on doing them and every now and then going to the Fair Grounds.

One Easter a Sunday School teacher who was also a doctor, graphically described the physical horrors that Jesus endured while He hung on the cross for me, so oh yeah I could go right on dishonoring Him. How over the cruelling hours the blood drained out of His body. Know that dehydrated feeling you get like after cutting the grass? Imagine how He felt as the fluids rushed out of His body and weren't replaced. How hard it got for Him to breathe. There were so many other things he told us. That was a very hard Easter. And all the while Jesus could have gotten down if He had chosen too. At His feet, His glorious precious feet, the soilders mocked Him and casted lots for His clothes. They gambled for His clothes while the Savior of the world was dying for them and for me. My friend, I was heart broken and stricken and terrified, that I could be like those soilders. I never ever want to be like those men. I have never gambled again, nor will I ever again. I wish I could tell you like that wonderful Sunday School teacher, he was so much better at it than I.

I really wish I could report that I never sin. Sometimes I look back at myself and wonder how I could do such awful things. This Easter I rewatched The Passion of the Christ. This time though I didn't allow myself to turn my head away when the beatings got so bad. This time I watched and repented of some of the awful things that I have done. Maybe this will help you also. And call Brother Mike, he really can help.

On a final note. My brother is a computer guru. He told me why he doesn't gamble just tonight. He said that the machine is a computer, programmed to take your money, he doesn't need to test their program. That the armored cars come to the casinos twice a day to take money away, not to bring any in. That was good enough reason for him.

I hope this helps. You have another sister out there praying for you and I hope you for me. It's funny if we let God in, one day we'll look back and laugh at the problems we used to have.

[member]

Hi and thanks. You know i am embarrassed with my sins; gambling just to mention one. I don't want to give money to casinos with gambling when i know i should be tithing and giving to the kingdom of God. Its just that i use that money for my pleasure in this area instead of for what God sees it as being used for His glory. I admit I am not content in God. I always want somthing more. What wxactly is stewartship? I also admit my relationship with Christ is a struggle. I haven't been a Christian for very long, but I just don't seem to spend time with Him like I should. I really do need that relationship with Him more and more. Deep down as you wrote, I do not know the deep void i am longing to fill, something is there, just don't know what it is. I know deep down I need help, i guess I am just scared and don;t know. Its almost as if I don't want anyone to know who I am, just want to keep this secret.

[Mike Miller]

I understand your embarrassment, but please know that I am here for you if you need me, and I will not look down on you. In fact, I am so pleased that you are already reaching out for help. The fact that you are grieving over your sin is a good sign. In the church, we are to help each other in our sin, weakness, and pain. I hope you will let someone in God's family walk this difficult journey with you.

Praying.

[member]

Thank you so much for praying. I need to do more of that myself with this. I just seem to think if I just put it aside and don't talk about it that it will just go away. I know that is not the case here. I really just need to surrender it to God and let it go from there. I just need to find something else to fill that urge. I truly want to live the life God has in store for me; not the life I seem and want to live daily. I really just need to trust God more and let Him take control of this. This journey has just begun.