Bible Reading: I Timothy 6:1-10
Key Verse: Verse 10 – “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
Key Words: For the love of money is the root of all evil
According to Gary Palmer, U.S. Congressman representing Alabama’s 6th District, there is currently two counties in the State of Alabama whose County Commissioners plan to build electronic bingo casinos. There is something that the people of these counties and the surrounding counties need to know ... you are allowing what has been called the “crack cocaine of gambling” into your communities. For all the efforts to sterilize it, cloak it with false legitimacy by calling it “bingo” and tie it to charities, electronic bingo is video gambling.
For some reason, humanists believe that gambling is the answer for funding government education. According to the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR), since the lottery was introduced in Georgia one out of every 100 teenagers has a gambling problem. Secondly, again according to Georgia’s DHR, gambling addiction is costing the State of Georgia $221,000,000 every year. This is four times higher than when the lottery was introduced in the state. Thirdly, the lottery is known as the education bill; but in Georgia since the lottery was introduced, the high school graduation rate has dropped 6%. What is the number one cause for the drop-outs? You guessed it, gambling addiction! Fourthly, Georgia college entrance units dropped 3% since the lottery became legal.
All of this should be enough for us to vote against the lottery, but as yet we have not discussed the number one reason for voting against the lottery. The primary reason we should oppose the lottery is that it goes against the Word of God.
- The lottery goes against the laws of God. Romans 13:8-9 tells us, among other things, that we should not covet. The word covet means to itch for more. Let me ask you, when someone buys a lottery ticket, are they thinking about a child’s education or are they itching for more?
- The lottery goes against the plan of God. In Deuteronomy 5:13, Ephesians 4:28, and II Thessalonians 3:10 we are told the way we gain our possessions is through labor, not through the lottery.
- The lottery goes against the requirements of God. I Corinthians 4:2 tells us... “Moreover it is required of stewards that a man be found faithful.” My money is not my money but God’s money, and I must give an account of how I spend God’s money.
- The lottery goes against the warning of God. In I Timothy 6:9-10, God warns us against loving and desiring money.
Many of our politicians have asked that we approve of gambling; our God has asked that we oppose it. Now, on whose side are you?
What to do:
✞ Pray for believers to understand that gambling is a sin.
✞ Pray for those whose view in this area is not Biblical.
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