WANNA BET?IS GAMBLING OK?

GAMBLING DEFINED

• American Heritage Dictionary: – To bet on an uncertain outcome, as of a

contest; To play a game of chance for stakes; To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage or a benefit.

• World Book Encyclopedia:– "Gamblers usually bet money or something

else of value as a stake on the outcome they predict. When the outcome is settled, the winner collects the loser’s stakes."

GAMBLING DEFINED

• Three elements witnessed in gambling.1. The Uncertain Event. It is arbitrarily

determined. 2. The Stake. Wager or bet that is

deliberately chanced. 3. A Winner and Loser. In gambling – in

order for one to win, another MUST lose!

Relevant Factors

• Around Unsavory Characters– 1 Cor. 15:33, 34; 1 Thess. 5:21, 22

• Addiction– 1 Cor. 6:12

• Risk– Ecc. 9:11

Root Sins in Gambling:

• Greed– 1 Tim. 6:9-10; Heb. 13:5; Matt. 6:24

• One cannot love his brother as himself– Matt. 22:39; Phil. 2:3-4– Our money is used for four primary reasons:

• To supply personal and family needs. (2 Thess. 3:10; 1 Tim. 5.8)

• To contribute to God’s work on earth. (1 Cor. 16:1-3 / 2 Cor. 8:1-9:7)

• To help the poor and needy. (John 13:29 / Eph. 4:28 / 2 Cor. 9:6-15)

• To support our government. (Mat. 22:21 / Rom. 13:7)

– Prov. 14:21, 31

Other Significant Factors:

• We are to be examples! (Matt. 5:14)• The combination of all these factors:• We should glorify God in everything

we do!

WANNA BET?