เครดิตฟรี
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Most Christians know that playing poker is wrong. But what if we just play poker for fun? Nobody is losing money so is that ok? The Bible says…
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. ~ Ephesians 5:3 NIV
Perhaps God can seem like a killjoy. But His purpose is always best. If we look away from our own pleasure and see what characteristics we are demonstrating in even free poker games we see some alarming factors. Impurity such as lying, greed, pride and selfishness are still center stage even in a free เครดิตฟรี game. Should we practice sin for fun? Should we practice lying to each other? Should we practice deceiving each other? And yet that is exactly what we are doing even in a free poker game. Let us say that poker is 100% skill, it still does not pass God’s Commandments. There is still deception, lying, greed and covetousness.
The bottom line is this. You can’t play around with sin. You can’t nibble around the edges. God’s word says…
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.[1]
The flesh is a word simply meaning the cravings of sin, our carnal nature. So we should not seek temptation, Christ never sought out temptation to display His power, and He avoided it at all costs. When He was tempted it was for a purpose to demonstrate God’s power over sin and Satan. Too many Christians are struggling with sins and one reason they do not have victory is not for a lack of God’s power but it is because they are making provision for sin. Those who are trying to overcome cigarettes for example would promise God that they would not smoke but then leave a pack of cigarettes in their bedroom. Then they wonder why they are tempted to smoke! We must demonstrate to God that we trust His promises by also taking steps of faith and getting rid of everything that can bring temptation. Online poker accounts should be closed, watching poker on TV should no longer be watched, any form of temptation that we have control over we should get rid of. Eliminating forms of temptation are statements of faith to God saying, “Lord I trust that you will give me the victory as promised and here is my demonstration of trusting in you”.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. [2] If we are in the habit of playing poker, in any form then we should not just remove the evil but we should also replace the evil habit with a good habit. There are plenty of positive things we can do instead (study, pray, share with others, spend time with friends or family, read the Bible, workout, help others, these are just a few suggestions).
It might be a hard task for us to give us certain sins. The reality is some sins like poker can bring us worldly profit. It might seem like you are losing by giving up something that can give you additional money and power. Often it can seem like you are losing out on a profit that could be yours. The reality however, is that those who desire to hold on to this worldly profit are actually those who lose. Jesus said…
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? [3]
We may have thought that we can’t afford to give up a certain sin, the reality is that we can’t afford not to give it up. If you don’t surrender your will to God and allow Him to give you the victory, you will exchange your soul for the things of this world. Trust me, you are not losing out on anything by giving up poker. In fact, you are actually gaining by giving it up. It is written…
Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. ~ 1 Timothy 6:6-11 (NKJV)
The reality is in the past, any even now we seem to be pretty messed up based on God’s word. We are both guilty of in the past playing poker, deceiving others, lying, stealing and coveting. The book I gave you a while back entitled Steps to Christ says this…
“The closer you come to Jesus, the more faulty you will appear in your own eyes; for your vision will be clearer, and your imperfections will be seen in broad and distinct contrast to His perfect nature.” [4]
When faced with God’s truth, when faced with เครดิตฟรี the perfect life of Jesus, we see just how much we need Him. Habits can be hard to break. We know that God’s desire is for us to completely give up poker and gambling, and it may seem like a big request. But is it really too much to ask when compared with what Jesus gave for us? I invite you to turn to the book of Romans 8:12-14, it says…
Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. [5]
I have a mortgage. My entire house was already paid, every penny of it. I am simply in debt to the party who paid for my house. Therefore I have an obligation to pay that debt. Romans chapter 8 verse 12 says we have an obligation. Only this debt is not one of a financial nature. This debt is much deeper. It was paid not with American dollars but with something better, with the blood of God’s only Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. [6]
Indeed there is no greater love than Jesus for us. He paid it all, by laying down His life for us. The death that we deserved was laid on Him. Therefore we have such a great obligation to live no longer for ourselves but for Christ.