Original Power Point
By
Richard Thetford
www.thetfordcountry.com
Edited with additions of scriptures/etc
Jack Wheeler – Clovis Ca.
www.powerpointstojesus.com
Email: [email protected]
Gambling in America is bigger
than it has ever been!
• 85% of adults have gambled
• Lotteries / Casinos are most common
• Americans bet $482 billion last year
• 44 states have legalized gambling
Cards (Poker)
Horse Racing
Dog Racing
Lottery
Bingo
Raffle Tickets
Slot Machines
Roulette
Pitching or Matching Coins
Betting on Ball Games
What is Gambling?
 “wagering money or other items of value on
an uncertain event that is dependent either
wholly on chance, as in roulette, or partly on
chance and partly on skill, as in certain card
games and in sporting contests.”
• Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia
 “to play any game of chance for stakes…to
stake or risk money, or anything of value, on
the outcome of something involving
chance…bet; wager”
• Random House College Dictionary
What Gambling Is Not:
 Taking normal risks of business or life
• Farming, driving a car, etc.
 In Gambling:
• One stands to gain at the loss of others
 In Farming:
• Profit is not sought at the loss of others and risk is
not contrived
Essential motive is covetousness
 Covet – “to fix passion upon”
• Ephesians 5:5
Colossians 3:5
 The love of money is the root of Gambling
• 1 Timothy 6:10
What is the Remedy?
“….seek those things which are above, where Christ
is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on
things above, not on things on the earth….”
Colossians 3:1-2
It violates the principle of honest labor
 One is to earn income from his own work
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
2 Thessalonians 3:10
 Perpetuates the “get something for nothing”
 Gambles away money and shuns
responsibility to provide for his family
• Matthew 7:12
Gambling is accompanied by other evils
You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from
evils
thorn bushes or figs from thistles?
Matthew 7:16
 Cannot produce good things – it produces:
• Greed, domestic violence, child abuse, divorce, theft,
fraud, organized crime, prostitution, murder, drinking,
suicide
 Destroys confidence, credibility, reliability &
security between spouses & family members
Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble
Proverbs 15:16
Gambling does NOT promote godliness
 Can the following be said of gambling?
Philippians 4:8
1 Thessalonians 5:21
Matthew 5:16
James 4:4
I Tim 6:17-19
Gambling is deceptive
“Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits.” (1 Cor 15:33)
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Consumes innocent souls
Constant appeal to raw greed
Carefully crafted fantasy of getting rich quick
Deception that winning is easy and likely
Trap of devastating addiction
Victimization of the poor
Offers success and freedom
• Delivers sorrow and bondage!
Gambling is a product of worldliness
 An effort to lay up treasure on this earth
It is a deceiver, mocker and destroyer
 Lives, families, souls
Put away covetousness and greediness
Learn to be content with our life
 As we press on toward heaven
“Let your conduct be without
covetousness; be content with
such things as you have. For He
Himself has said, "I will never
leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5
“Pressing Toward the Goal Not that I have already
attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I
may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also
laid hold of me.” Philippians 3:12