November 14, 1999 Humble Messenger
Is Gambling (Lotteries) Honorable?
God's plan is that people provide for them themselves
and their families through honest endeavors.
"...But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it
your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your
hands, just as we commanded you; so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and
not be in any need." 1 Th. 4:10-12, NASB.
"nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with labor
and hardship we kept working night and day so that we might not be a burden to any of
you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a
model for you, that you might follow our example. For even when we were with you, we
used to give you this order: if anyone will not work, neither let him eat. " 2 Th.
3:8-10, NASB.
One may exchange service (e.g. tent making, Acts 18:3,
carpenter, Mt. 13:55) or goods (e.g. financial investments, Mt. 25:27, selling fabrics,
Acts 16:14) in order to honorably provide support for himself and his own.
Observe how the world views gambling:
"something other than hard work, saving and investment ... Bill
Thompson, a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, estimates the states
together spend 'probably over a billion dollars' a year on advertising and marketing"
the lotteries. The author asks, "Where are the state ads, much less the policies, promoting
hard work and investing?" Editorial, Investors Business Daily, Oct.
29,'99, p. A26. (italics mine, srf)
Nothing wrong with getting rich, but is gambling an honorable
way to get there? Is the attempt to gain through gambling according to God's plan for
the accumulation of wealth?
Listen further to the testimony of investors, policy makers, congressional records, etc.
"The real irony is that most states outlaw numbers running‹except
when it's the state running the numbers. There are exceptions of course. But the general
message from the states is: Don't gamble unless it's with us." Ibid.
"The scandal is not in the fixing of a few races. The scandal
is in insisting that failure is success... people...are being deliberately misled‹lied
to, by their state government‹into believing that gambling pays off." William
Safire, "State-Owned Gambling A Market for Suckers," The Dallas Morning News,
Sep. 12, 1973 (italics mine, srf).
"As Professor Irving Kristol pointed out...gambling is 'technically a swindle: the
payoffs on bets must be less than fair, and the overwhelming majority of the
'investors' must eventually lose their money, if the gambling enterprise is to
survive and prosper.' Therefore, he noted, the case for legalized gambling is 'simply an
argument in favor of the government raising revenues by swindling its citizens rather than
by taxing them.'" "Gambling and the Government," The Wall Street Journal,
p. 4, Jan. 4, 1974.
When the state of New Hampshire was studying legalizing
additional gambling activities, Gov. Hugh Gallen set up a commission on gambling which
concluded,
"The promotion and expansion of gambling is contrary to sound
philosophy. Stripped of its theatrical trappings, gambling is nothing more than a
consumer swindle. Even with willing victims, government is not justified in embarking
in the swindling business." Fact Sheet: Pari-Mutual Gambling (italics mine,
srf)
What do you think? Does it "respect what is right
("honest" KJV; "good things" NKJV; "noble"
NRSV) in the sight of all men" (Rom. 12:17)? We see gambling is viewed, even by
people of the world, as undermining to "hard work, saving and investment," a
"scandal" that "deliberately misleads" people into poor financial
choices, and a "consumer swindle." Should God's people, who are to "let
your mind dwell on" "whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute" (Php. 4:8) have any
participation in such a practice? srf
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News of Interest
Gary Tuttle was taken to NE Hospital about 5 Friday a.m. Friday with chest
pains. It was concluded he had a mild heart attack. He is doing well. He will be moved to
Hermann Hospital on Sunday in preparation for a heart catheterization to see if he
has blockage . . . Margaret Wilborn learned that part of her heart is not
functioning properly. She has been given medication, but if it does not work, she may have
to undergo surgery . . . June Hodges had another painful test on her
back to see if anything can be done to relieve her pain. She should learn more tomorrow .
. . Evelyn Evans, who became sick while in the assembly last Sunday morning,
began feeling better Monday and seems to be okay . . . Matthew Hodges had an MRI on
his spine and has learned he has nerve damage in his spine. The next test is a CT
myelogram . . . GOSPEL MEETINGS: Nov. 14-17, Southside, Pasadena, Dee
Bowman . . . ANNEX CLASS: A study of Isaiah will be offered in the annex next
quarter. Boyd Hurst will be the teacher. If you would like to attend that class,
please put your name on the sign up sheet in the foyer. The auditorium class will study
Acts 1-12 . . . ELDERS: Please be patient while issues are being addressed by the
elders concerning the selection of the four men whose names are before the congregation to
serve as elders . . . Wally and Linda Ottersbach wrote a note to the congregation
relative to his mother. It was read last Sunday morning, but if you were not here to hear
it, you can read it on the bulletin board in the foyer . . It was encouraging to see the
good number in attendance last Wednesday night. Were you part of it? If you are
missing the study and mutual edification on Wednesday evenings, we encourage you to
reconsider. It will do you good and be an encouragement to others to make it a practice to
be here.
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Transportation for Zelma Bobbitt
‹ November ‹
Sun., 14, am - xxxxxx pm - B.
Simpson
Wed., 17, pm - David Osteen
Sun., 21, am - xxxxxx pm - Doug Bernard
Wed., 24, pm - Rocky Rodriguez
Sun., 28, am - xxxxxx pm - Robert Rice
Due to the problems Zelma is experiencing with her legs, she is not able at present to
sit through both morning class and assembly. This is the reason Sunday morning is x'd out.
It would be a good idea to call her before going to pick her up in the evening to be sure
she feels like coming.
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SCHEDULED TO SERVE
Wednesday, Nov. 17
Song Leader: Craig Ottersbach
Sunday AM, Nov. 21
Announcements: Tod Aldridge
Song Leader: David Osteen
First Prayer: Eddie Crain
Lord's Table:
Bread: Mark Ary
Fruit of the Vine: Craig Ottersbach
Contribution: Jeff Bogs
Assistant: Kris Emerson
Closing Prayer: Arthur Wilborn
Sunday PM, Nov. 21
Song Leader: Jim Crain
First Prayer: Mike Head
Lord's Table:
Bread: Larry Legg
Fruit of the Vine: John Knudsen
Contribution: Boyd Hurst
Closing Prayer: Matthew Hodges