Deadly Sins New and OldSample

Gambling

Okay, Okay, gambling in and of itself does not belong in a list of deadly sins. You can search the Bible from cover to cover and not find a divine prohibition of gambling. But it is a risky human behavior that easily becomes sinful, and if you choose to gamble, you had better beware of the temptations. It can quickly go from amusement to addiction.

Questions to ask: Can you afford it? Is your gambling money coming from funds that should be saved for the mortgage payment, credit card bills, and your kids’ college fund? Can the other people you’re gambling with afford it (you are your brother’s keeper, you know)? Has gambling become an exciting wealth-building strategy for you that makes you hate your job? Can you afford the time spent in front of the slots or at a table? Do you find yourself lying to cover your activities? Are you still in control of the behavior, or is it controlling you?

If you want to check yourself on the above points, don’t trust your own judgment completely. See how your activities are playing with the other people in your family. How do they view the time you spend? the money you’ve lost? You know, seeking to build wealth is actually encouraged in the Bible, but the preferred method is by working and saving: “Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow” (Proverbs 13:11).