Quote - David Brainerd

"As long as I see any thing to be done for God, life is worth having; but O how vain and unworthy it is to live for any lower end!" David Brainerd

Gambling

Have you ever given thought to whether gambling is right or wrong? Do you know where the Bible provides helpful principles to guide a Christian in make decisions about this area? The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention has published a helpful resource on gambling. Some interesting statistics & quotes:

• 85% of Americans have gambled
• 60% of Americans have gambled in the past year
• "Although Scripture does not say “Do not gamble,” gambling clearly violates biblical principles. In addition to doing personal damage to the gambler, it encourages a love of money, legalizes taking from your neighbor, victimizes the poor, corrupts government, produces the wrong attitude toward work, hurts legitimate business, increases violence and crime, and jeopardizes the well-being of families."
• "Scripture gives Christians principles for living in a proper relationship with God and with each other. Gambling and its promotion violate these principles. It is my prayer that Christians will run from gambling in every form, for there is scarcely no greater act of disobedience and faithlessness than to cast your lot at the feet of a false idol, in this case, the gambling industry." Dr. Richard Land, President of ERLC

They also helpfully include 10 questions to consider concerning one's gambling behavior: 1. You have often gambled longer than you had planned. 2. You have often gambled until your last dollar was gone. 3. Thoughts of gambling have caused you to lose sleep. 4. You have used your income or savings to gamble while letting bills go unpaid. 5. You have made repeated, unsuccessful attempts to stop gambling. 6. You have broken the law or considered breaking the law to finance your gambling. 7. You have borrowed money to finance your gambling. 8. You have felt depressed or suicidal because of your gambling losses. 9. You have been remorseful after gambling. 10. You have gambled to get money to meet your financial obligations.

National Problem Gambling HelpLine Network (800-522-4700).

The Family Foundation (http://www.kentuckyfamily.org ) highlights the top reasons to be opposed to gambling in your area:

1. The Family is targeted
2. Businesses will lose
3. Government will be corrupted
4. The Vulnerable will be destroyed

Proverbs 15:27a(ESV) "Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household" Jeremiah 17:11 (NIV) "Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay is the man who gains riches by unjust means. When his life is half gone, they will desert him, and in the end he will prove to be a fool." Proverbs 1:19 (ESV) "Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors."

Quotes - C.T. Studd

"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him." C.T. Studd