Here is a website on the subject that I found to send to my parents and my inlaws...
Something to think about...
How much of your hard earned, God given money are you gladly giving to further the work of satan?
Why Gambling is Wrong
(1) Gambling discourages honest labor. The Bible supports the concept of the so-called "Protestant work ethic." Proverbs 14:23 (Amplified) tells us, "In all labor there is profit, but idle talk leads only to poverty." Profit should come through productive labor, not by chance.
"Wealth not earned but won in haste, or unjustly, or from the production of things for vain or detrimental use, such riches will dwindle away; but he who gathers little by little will increase them" Proverbs 13:11 (Amplified). See also Proverbs 28:19.
(2) Gambling encourages greed, materialism and discontent. See Luke 12:15, Hebrews 13:5, I Timothy 6:6-10, Psalm 62:10. Lottery promotions induce people to covet the money of others. Gambling such as lotteries are engaged in by people hoping to win a lot of money without earning it, which is a dishonest attitude. Money won in gambling comes from other players, including some who can ill afford to gamble. Gambling in its essence is a form of robbery, which is stealing. Each gambler wants to get the prize money for himself. It encourages greedy obsession with material wealth, which is having another god in place of the true Creator. Gambling directly breaks the first, eighth and tenth commandments, and all the others in principle.
Gambling is basically LUST. Anyone with the Spirit of the Eternal should be able to discern this fact. Here at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, where "pleasure" and self-indulgence reign supreme, lust is everywhere.
I John 2:15-17, "Love not the world neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
Proverbs 21:25-26, "The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not."
(3) Gambling encourages "get rich quick" thinking. See Proverbs 28:20, 22; 21:5.
Proverbs 23:4-5, "Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven."
(4) Gambling encourages reckless investment of God-given resources. See Matthew 25:14-30. If gambling is "fun" and "pleasure" to you, you already have your reward. If you are denying yourself, serving the Eternal 100% with your time and resources, you will not make the pitifully weak (and false) excuse: "But I have a right to throw away my money at gambling!" You know that your life, your wealth are not yours. If you follow the Bible, you are a slave to the Messiah. You, your money, everything you have are His. Would Jesus gamble? Definitely not!
Sabbath keepers who spend second tithe on gambling are no different than infidels who spend their allotted vacation money on gambling. Gambling, prostitution, drunkenness and ribald night clubs are no atmosphere for the Bible believer. One year we kept the Feast of Tabernacles at Squaw Valley, California, across the border from Reno, Nevada’s other gambling Mecca. One evening of the Feast we went over to Nevada to a dinner show where we heard male vocalist Ed Ames. Mr. Ames' music is generally very wholesome and uplifting. However I have often felt since that time that a gambling casino was no atmosphere for us to be in. Jesus was invited to dinners given by Pharisees as well as tax collectors. He preached the truth wherever He went, but He did not support corrupt practices.
Conclusion
Satan is a gambler. He should know that the "house" (the Father) has the odds in its favor. The devil lost before and soon Satan will stake it all on a last desperate gamble to overthrow his Maker. What foolishness!
Salvation is no gamble. It is sure.
The only question is whether we are going to patiently remain faithful, steadfast to the end. Or are we going to foolishly risk it all on the fleeting lusts and pleasures of this world?
Which would you prefer: Caesar’s Palace with its glitter and lustful pleasures and the friends of this world? Or a cool forested hideaway with clean air and water, with a few of the Eternal’s people? Lot took the popular plain of Sodom, while Abraham took the sparsely populated hills. God’s country is "where the pleasure is."
Psalms 16:11, "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
Gambling is a sin.
Compulsive gamblers can overcome their obsession with gambling by and through the power of the Almighty. Gambling is a curse, closely associated with gangsterism, prostitution, theft, narcotics, and drunkenness. Is it right for people to prey on the lusts and greedy appetites of others? Is it right to throw money down a rat hole, for no constructive purpose other than "entertainment"? To attempt to get something for nothing, without working for it? NO!
Gambling is the opposite of love. Its prime motive is to get, which is Satan’s way. God’s way is one of giving and sharing. Casinos exist to take your money, trying to make it appear as painless as possible. True love is to give and share. An honest day’s work for honest wages. Constructive, honest and productive labor builds character. Gambling builds lust, greed, cheating, and selfishness. There are no positive attributes of gambling. Any "charity" that resorts to gambling for fund raising is wrong.
Stay away from all forms of gambling. Labor honestly for productive wealth. Wisely use your resources for the Eternal’s services
Is Gambling a Sin
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