Casino“You
shall not steal.” (Exodus 20:15) But occasionally buying a lottery ticket or betting on sports can also bring us pain. Gambling harms people not just by wasting their money, but also by alienating them from friends and family, exhausting them emotionally and distorting their perspectives on reality. Gambling can also fuel compulsions that lead to other problems, such as drugs, drinking, smoking, sexual promiscuity and crime. No matter what we’re seeking, gambling won’t deliver for us, only God will. If we’re seeking thrills, try worshipping God because there's no greater thrill then encountering Him through the Holy Spirit. If we're looking for security, ask God to provide, trust Him, and experience His blessings. God, the ultimate source of all we need, is truly reliable unlike gambling. All forms of gambling encourage us to seek control through money rather than seeking God’s guidance and power for us. Even if we gamble just once in a while, we’re not fully trusting God, and we're blocking many of His blessings. We must confess our gambling and ask God to renew our spirit so we’ll have the grace we need to stop. We can also join a group who can provide vital support, accountability, encouragement and prayers. If gambling has devastated our finances, seek counseling from a financial advisor or Consumer Credit Counseling. We may even want to temporarily transfer control of money to someone we trust until we feel confident enough to regain control of it. We then must stay focused on the hope that God offers to help us through the process of breaking gambling’s power. As we relinquish control to God, be patient and courageous as we meditate on God’s Word daily and experience God's transforming power in our lives.Copyright © 2003 Eddy Ministries. All rights reserved. Subscribe/Unsubscribe: eddyn@earthlink.net
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