Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading –Wednesday December 14, 2022

Comment: Gambling, especially football betting, has become a popular activity among the youths and even with some older people in the society. The use of popular celebrities and soccer stars to advertise football betting under different brands has in no small measure contributed to enticing the youths to indulge in football betting and other forms of gambling. Gambling can easily become addictive and lead to dire social problems. According to the Gambling: Help and Relief website, some signs of gambling addiction are “feeling the need to hide your gambling from others, gambling to forget, stealing or committing fraud to gamble, and gambling out of necessity among others.” Consequently, a gambler is more likely to lose control of his life by becoming obsessed with gambling, run into financial difficulties, have troubled relationships, decline in appearance and/or hygiene, disinterest in previously enjoyed activities and possibly job loss, resort to lying, and deception. Lovers of righteousness as children of light are enjoined to live godly life and avoid worldliness which eventually ends in misery. Without doubt, the Bible cautions believers against indulgence in gambling, Ponzi Schemes in whatever disguise, and other similar wealth-without-labour schemes that are becoming so popular in the world, all at the instance of the Devil. King Solomon exhorts; “Wealth from get-rich quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.” – Proverbs 13:11; 28:22; Luke 12:15 (New Living Translation).