Gambling
Bryn Thomas / Keith Munday
Gambling has become Britain's number one pastime. There is
the national lottery, now called Lotto; the Government-sponsored premium bond
scheme, whose winners are automatically selected by Ernie the computer; horse
racing, football pools, bingo and scratch cards all provide outlets for the
gambling public.
Betting companies will often take bets on all kinds of odd
eventualities from how many goals a football team will score by half-time to
the appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury. All these methods raise hopes
(usually false ones) for those who would get rich quick. The national lottery
started off by selling £4.5 billion worth of tickets in its first year,
and at that time 50% went on prizes, 28% to good causes, 12% was tax, 5% to the
vendor and 5% to Camelot. There is a continual list of applicants for lottery
grants.
Gambling was not unknown in Bible days
and although
there are no direct instructions that forbade it, there are references to the
underlying reasons. "You shall not covet" is one of the ten commandments
mentioned in Holy Scripture. And later in the New Testament we are reminded that "the
love of money is the root of all evil".
The Christian believer regards himself as a steward of all
that he owns, and is called upon to handle all his affairs responsibly and
wisely.
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