The
gambling industry in partnership with government and business have conspired
together to produce a masterful public relations strategy. It promotes gambling as a fun recreational
activity that also provides needed public funding for education or other worthy
causes.
On
the surface it all seems innocent, but at its core gambling is a wretched
vice. This evil is built on a flashy,
well-orchestrated scheme of stealing.
Except, rather than doing it secretively, players willingly fork over
their cash hand over fist. They give the
card dealer, the grocery store clerk or the online website their hard earned
income in return for a false hope of a jackpot rarely seen.
This
devilish vice has been destroying lives for centuries and now more than
ever. According to a Gambling treatment
organization, over 80% of Americans have gambled on some level foolishly giving
over $500 billion to these crafty thieves.
On top of that it costs our economy over $40 billion, which comes from credit
losses to businesses due to a gamblers unpaid debt and for the expense of
social services to get them help.
Additionally, gambling can lead to job loss, bankruptcy, fraud,
depression, suicide, alcohol and drug abuse and much, much more. Get the picture? Every time I watch a TV add extolling the
virtues of gambling I yell “It’s a lie!”
Ask any family member of someone who has a gambling problem if they
think it is just a “harmless recreational activity that is for the good of the
economy and jobs.”
The Scripture is spot on when it comes to
gambling saying, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through
this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves
with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:10). The
love of money drives this evil and its misplaced love has caused people to
wander away from their jobs, families and God.
