ARRESTING THE EVIL CALLED GAMBLING

ARRESTING THE EVIL CALLED GAMBLING
Gambling has been on the increase in the society. Gambling is rooted in the love of money which is the root of all evil. The desire to get rich at all cost makes some people to visit casinos, lotto shops and sport betting shops. Gamblers see it as a game which they either win or lose. Homes and lives have been ruined as a result of gambling. Hence a need to arrest the menace of gambling in our society which many men is addicted to. According to research adults who gamble have been addicted into it from their youthful age. In this article we shall examine the evils gambling has caused in our societies, how it can be reduced or stopped, and how gambling addicts can be freed from it.
Gambling as defined by advanced learners dictionary 7th edition as the activity of playing games of chance for money. Wikitionary defines gambling as an activity characterized by a balance between winning and losing that is governed by a mixture of skill and chance usually with money wagered in the outcome. Encarta defines gambling as the practice of playing game of chance or betting in the hope of winning money. This follows that gambling is a game of chance in which money or material thing are placed as a bet based on the outcome.
Gambling is as old as humanity, gambling is traced to 3000BC to have emerged in china as a form of a card games. Gambling is also traced to ancient Egypt and Rome. Gambling has been since humanity and it seems to be one of the activities that humans are involved in. In the bible, gambling can be traced to the casting of lots, in proverbs 16:33 it is written that the lot is cast into the lap but its every decision is from the LORD. Casting of lot is a chance; the audience prayed to God and believes the outcome is from God according to their faith. At the crucifixion of Jesus, the soldier cast a lot and a wager is placed on the outcome. The wager is the garment of Jesus Christ. This game played by the soldiers can be said to be a gambling. Gambling is not pinpointed as a sin in the bible but the scripture warn about activities that could lead to gambling.in 1 timothy 6: 10, Paul warned Timothy about the love of money which can lead to greediness and made men to involve in some activities which can be sinful. Jesus also warned against greediness in Luke 12:15 saying that watch out, be on guard against all kind of greed, a man’s life does not consist in abundance of his possessions.
The love of money is the reason behind gambling and it is evil because the desire to always win makes gamblers not to be satisfied. Inability to minimize their wins make gamblers spend all their fortunes on gambling as a result of this actions, homes are ruined and dreams are shattered. Gambling is evil because there is a spirit behind it which is responsible for making gamblers addicted to gambling. Some are not emotionally balanced until they play lotto or sport bet in a day. Gambling reduces men to nothing, no matter the money they gained from gambling, they ended up spending it all on gambling till they are reduced to zero point. Gambling is evil because it leads to depression. Gamblers are the most hit by depression when they are on the losing side this made them result into hard drugs such as marijuana or heroine  and alcohol as a way of temporarily dealing with their depression. These actions have made gamblers victims of diabetics, hypertension, stroke and cancer.  Gambling is evil because gamblers after losing fortunes may end up committing suicides.
Some Christians have fallen into the pit of gambling because they fail to deal with the love of money and greediness. They have drifted from faith by engaging in playing lotto and sport betting all in the name of making more money. First step in arresting gambling is knowing that it is evil and it is dangerous to one’s destiny, diligence in one’s vocation is necessary and contentment with the income that comes from your vocation. Inability of some people to be contented with their salary has made them venture into gambling so that they increase their wealth.
The antidote to the love of money is to be contented with what you have. Being satisfied with what you have will make you not to fall as prey into gambling. Contentment is not enough; you have to be godly with it. Are you addicted to gambling? God loves you, get deliverance from the spirit of gambling, be prayerful, and live a discipline life by determining in your heart not to engage in gambling activities again and the lord in his mercies will help you.
Pastor Bola Oladipupo
+2348051938901

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