Gambling and Drinking

This is a study that Billy did on gambling and drinking.  He asked me to type it up for him, so I thought I’d post it for you to enjoy! 

Gambling

The definition of covet is to lust after worldly things.  A man gambles because of his lust for money.  This makes gambling a sin.  Here are a few verses that tie into lust.  Maybe this will be a help to all who read it. 

God wants us to rely on Him for all our provisions.

“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.”  1 Timothy 6:10

“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness:  for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth.”  Luke 12:15

“(1) Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; (2) And walk in love, as

 Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to god for a sweetsmelling savour.  (3)But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;”  Ephesians 5:1-3

“No servant can serve two masters:  for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.  ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  Luke 16:13

“But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things

shall be added unto you.”  Matthew 6:33

Drinking:

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging:  and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”  Proverbs 20:1

To understand the Bible, men have to realize that it was written in Jewish custom.  Their customs are not the same as ours.  God blessed them with wine that truly was the fruit of the vine, nothing more.  But since they didn’t have a way to keep it cool and to keep it from spoiling, God gave them directions on how to preserve it through fermentation.  However, it is not the same process as today’s process. 

God also gave them strict rules on this process and how to test it.  If it was too strong, they were not allowed to drink it.  It was thrown out because God said it became a different spirit.  In fact, it became an evil spirit.  To understand this, people need to understand the spirits.  God did not intend for people to drink the wine to get drunk. 

Beer on the other hand is made in such a way that when it is put into the bottle, it has the ingredients mixed together that, according to Jewish custom, it already has an evil spirit and considered a hard drink because of the volume of alcohol.  The Bible is very clear about strong drinks.  When you take into account Jewish customs, the spirits, and God’s Word, drinking even just one beer in fact is a sin.  It was made for the intent of getting drunk.

It has already helped some since this study began to see the importance of putting verses in proper context.

“Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.”  Hosea 4:11

“(22) Woe unto them that are might to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: 

(23) Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the

righteousness of the righteous from him!”  Isaiah 5:22-23

“They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.” 

Isaiah 24:9

“For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.”  Proverbs 4:17

When someone drinks or gambles, it gives the impression to people who don’t know you that you are a lost sinner.  On the flip side, if you are a saved child of God and are seen drinking and gambling, no one can tell if you are a child of darkness or a child of Light.  Now you have to worry about messing up your testimony.  That in itself would be a sin.

This study was done out of Love and not to condemn anyone.  That is reserved for Almighty God.