How to Defeat Harmful Habits (Counseling Through the Bible Series) (35 page)
(1 C
HRONICLES
29:15).
•
Action Gamblers…
– Typically begin betting during adolescent or preadolescent years
– Initially wager small amounts, playing “skill games” like poker or similar card games with family or peers, then expand their gambling to horse or dog races and sports events
– Generally project an inflated sense of self-esteem while harboring a deflated sense of personal worth
– Invariably experience the three stages of compulsive gambling—winning, losing, and bankruptcy—over a period of 10 to 30 years
•
Escape Gamblers…
– Experience problems from gambling when they are in their thirties or older, unlike action gamblers
– Enjoy “luck games” like bingo, slot machines, and video poker
– Conceal their deflated sense of personal worth by manipulating and deceiving people
– Bet to escape troubles and feel more powerful, and can appear to be in a dazed state while gaming
All compulsive gamblers—both those who
long for action
and who
long for escape
—are ensnared in the grip of an addiction. But as with any addiction, a key problem is not only their compulsion but also their blindness to it, which prevents them from getting the help they desperately need. They are led astray by their own self-deception and are oblivious to the swath of destruction they leave behind. As the biblical book on wisdom says:
“The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the
cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack
of discipline, led astray by his own great folly”
(P
ROVERBS
5:22-23).
HARACTERISTICS OF
G
AMBLING
Pete Rose’s hidden habit was now fully disclosed to a disbelieving public who finally recognized his problem as an addiction. And just how often did Pete gamble? According to a
New York Times
investigative report, he gambled “almost constantly.”
16
It is illegal for major league baseball managers to place bets on Major League Baseball games because of their ability to influence all aspects of their team’s performance, including the outcome. For example, putting less-talented players into a game at key times can result in intentionally losing that game or “throwing a game.” In addition, a manager’s knowledge and influence is extensive throughout the leagues, putting them in a position of having an unfair advantage over other bettors. Bottom line, wagering presents a huge conflict of interest for managers.
This report revealed that Pete had unlawfully bet on baseball games from 1985 through 1987, including 52 Reds games in 1987, at a minimum of $10,000 a day. (In a display of team loyalty, Rose always bet that his team would win.
17
) And in the never-ending hunt for money to pay off his mounting gambling debts, Pete borrowed from drug kingpins, wrote numerous checks to fictitious payees, and secured large bank loans.
18
“The wealth of the wise is their crown
,
but the folly of fools yields folly”
(P
ROVERBS
14:24).
The Dowd Report revealed that Pete Rose, the “action gambler,” had been involved in numerous unlawful actions. To avoid paying taxes, he purposely disguised his shares in “big win” tickets. And many of his bets were brazenly placed right from his clubhouse office, where bookies and “runners” intersected while others were fully aware of Pete’s gambling activities.
On any given day, Pete would take a flight to a baseball card show to earn from $8,000 to $12,000, which translated into quick cash for gambling and rarely made it into the bank as a deposit. But at one point, in a sworn deposition,
Pete denied ever making a single bet on baseball
.
19
His denials were later discovered to be lies—all lies. Interestingly, the book of Proverbs says, “A truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies” (Proverbs 14:5).
While some people can form addictions quickly, compulsive behavior generally is manifested over time as exposure to a certain emotional high increases and the excitement intensifies. Before a repeated behavior evolves into a habit or addiction, there is a window of opportunity for self-will to stop the harmful activity.
The same is true for gambling. If initial excitement and involvement aren’t intentionally contained, compulsive behavior can eventually hijack a gambler’s self-disciplined behavior. Failure to consciously commit to a right course of action results in an subconscious commitment to a wrong one.
“He commits himself to a sinful course
and does not reject what is wrong”
(P
SALM
36:4).
The formulation of compulsive/pathological gambling generally consists of three stages.
T
HE
T
HREE
S
TAGES OF
C
OMPULSIVE
G
AMBLING
20
An addiction to gambling is developed over time. Many of those who have been caught in the vice of compulsive gambling can identify at least three stages to their addictive behavior.
The first stage is the winning stage, which often begins with significant gambling winnings. The gambler feels exhilarated and is highly stimulated by the distraction or amusement of gambling. The gambler experiences:
– Amusement
– Exhilaration
– The thrill of winning
– Periodic sizeable wins
– Unrealistic confidence
– Daydreaming about “big money”
Losing marks the second stage. The gambler fixates on betting and makes more frequent and riskier bets in order to recover lost money. Often the gambler’s professional, social, and family life become damaged from lack of attention and the stress caused by mounting debt. The gambler experiences:
– Persistent intrusive thoughts about gambling
– Absences from work or school
– Changes in character, attitudes, and actions
– More betting with more losses
– “Chasing the bet” (betting to recoup lost money)
– Growing financial debt and the trade or sale of private possessions
In the third stage, the gambler becomes desperate. When gambling has consumed a life, it degrades or destroys professional aspirations, family relationships, and vital friendships, leaving behind a desperate individual filled with fear and depression. In this state the gambler may turn to criminal activity or even suicide to manage their pain. The gambler experiences:
– Depleted resources
– Fearful desperation
– Devastated self-respect
– Loss of job or failure in school
– Isolation from significant others
– Criminal activity to cover gambling debts
– Suicidal thoughts or attempts
As with any addictive behavior, the sooner intervention occurs, the better the prognosis for overcoming the addiction and the faster the recovery time. Sadly, many ignore the constrictive cords tightening around them until the freedom to choose to stop their compulsive behavior has long been stripped from them. They become prisoners without even knowing they’ve been in a battle—a war to control their will. They keep gambling whether they want to or not.
“For what I do is not the good I want to do;
no, the evil I do not want to do
—
this I keep on doing”
(R
OMANS
7:19).
For gambling addicts like Pete Rose, “the substance they abuse is money,” according to Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling. “There’s never enough money for a problem gambler. There’s not enough money in the world.” And one of the main characteristics of problem gamblers is lying about the extent of their involvement.
21
Pete Rose lied for 14 years until his public admission in January 2004 about his serious gambling problem.
The lives of problem gamblers are also characterized by destructive life events, such as divorces, bankruptcies, substance abuse, and suicides.
22
The longer they gamble, the greater their trouble. Because they see no way of escape, many feel disillusioned about life and some even desire to die.
“He who is pregnant with evil and conceives
trouble gives birth to disillusionment”
(P
SALM
7:14).
The term
problem gambler
refers to those whose gambling patterns interfere with their physical, psychological, social, spiritual and vocational lives. It refers both to those who have experienced significant problems due to gambling but are
not addicted
and to those who are considered full-blown
compulsive gamblers
.
One major difference between these two groups of problem gamblers is that nonaddicted, nonpathological gamblers are more likely to acknowledge they spend too much time and money on gambling and seek help. The Bible says, “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).
Problem gamblers…
–
Cannot seem to muster the willpower
to stop gambling even if they realize it’s consuming too much time, energy, and money
–
Consider gambling a viable means
of adding to their income
–
Convince family and friends to gamble
even when they have no desire to do so
–
Consume hours
of their time gambling alone
–
Customarily visit casinos
, race tracks, betting shops, or amusement arcades with slot machines numerous times over the course of a week
–
Convince themselves
that their excessive use of Internet gambling is normal
–
Constantly purchase lottery tickets
they cannot afford
–
Commit crimes
to support their gambling habit or pay off gambling debts
–
Continuously make comments
that “others” have gambling problems
–
Commonly carry around betting slips
, scratch cards, or tokens for fruit machines (slot machines)
Problem gamblers, like problem drinkers, are oblivious to their problem of overindulgence. Moderation escapes them, and their need for a fix drives them beyond the bounds of healthy behavior. While those closest to them see their bondage, they say, “I’m free to gamble—it’s not against the law!” However, they fail to realize that just because something is legal doesn’t make it right. In fact, an activity made lawful on the basis of man-made laws can be unlawful from God’s perspective. While we are all free to choose between doing right or wrong, the Bible says,
“You, my brothers, were called to be free
.
But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature;
rather, serve one another in love”
(G
ALATIANS
5:13).
Signs of Problem GamblingQ
UESTION
:
“What are clear indicators that gambling is having a negative effect on someone?”
A
NSWER
:
One early indicator of a gambling problem is experiencing an increasing emotional high when winning and feeling increasingly low when losing. Generally, a pattern begins to develop that is referred to as “chasing”—gambling to recoup losses. Often driven by the shame of suffering greater and greater losses and coupled with the anticipated shame of being found out, gamblers relentlessly and tirelessly chase their losses in the hope of winning them back. Yet the result is almost always deeper losses accompanied by deeper shame.
Other indicators that gambling is having a negative impact are…
• Decrease in weight
• Disinterest in usual activities
• Extreme emotional ups and downs
• Frequent requests for money
• Hocking/selling possessions
• Increasing debt
• Less motivation
• Neglect of loved ones
• Poor concentration
• Secretive activity with bills and bank statements
• Sleep difficulties
• Stealing or other criminal activity
• Unexplainable times of generosity
• Withdrawal emotionally and socially
• Worry, anxiety, and depression
“My disgrace is before me all day long
,
and my face is covered with shame”
(P
SALM
44:15).
Pathological gamblers take a lot of risks to conceal and continue their harmful addictions despite losses that are nothing short of devastating. Pete Rose experienced one such loss in August 1989: He was officially banned from baseball for life, declared “permanently ineligible,” and was replaced as manager of the Cincinnati Reds.
Pete’s stellar baseball achievements have been forever tainted by his gambling exploits, and he has been barred from ever being inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame.
One of the most common characteristics among those ensnared by Pathological Gambling Disorder is deeply buried denial. But sadly, their bondage is readily recognizable by those closest to them—those most severely impacted by their addiction. And unfortunately, self-diagnosis is rare among sufferers of this devastating disorder. Their blindness to their precarious position and to the inevitable loss of financial resources that awaits them is staggering. Anyone with this disorder can identify with these words from the book of Job:
“He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more;
when he opens his eyes, all is gone”
(J
OB
27:19).
Pathological gamblers must have at least five of the following characteristics to meet the criteria for a diagnosis of this disorder.
23
These compulsive gamblers…
•
Attempt
to avoid emotional pain and personal problems by gambling
•
Become
irritable and temperamental when attempting to curtail gambling
•
Chase
losses by wagering more and more money in an attempt to recover losses
•
Deny,
connive, and lie regarding the degree to which they gamble
•
Experience
seemingly never-ending thoughts about gambling
•
Find
others to bail them out of financial binds created by gambling losses
•
Gamble
with increasingly greater and greater amounts of money
•
Have
various problems at work and/or home as a result of gambling
•
Initiate
illegal and/or immoral acts to get money they can use to gamble
•
Make
numerous failed attempts to stop gambling
Once addicts are in the losing or bankrupt stages, their loved ones look for ways to break through the blindness and set a course for sustained change. Much prayer and preparation is necessary to meet such a critical and necessary task.
“My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins”
(J
AMES
5:19-20).
Professional vs. Pathological GamblersQ
UESTION
:
“Are professional gamblers considered compulsive gamblers?”
A
NSWER
:
No, professional gamblers differ in that they limit their risks, discipline their behavior, and control their emotions. Pathological gamblers become overly excited to the point of appearing to be manic (a mental disorder characterized by excessive excitability and hyperactivity). They don’t have true manic episodes, however, because once they are no longer in a gambling atmosphere their manic-like behavior disappears.
Male vs. Female DifferencesQ
UESTION
:
“Do differences exist between male and female compulsive gamblers?”
A
NSWER
:
Yes. While more and more similarities are emerging, differences still remain:
• Males commonly begin gambling in their teen years, while women usually begin at an older age.
24
• Men are more addicted to “skill games,”
25
whereas women gravitate toward video gambling and other venues that bring faster results.
• Women become addicted more quickly, experience more bouts with depression over their gambling, and gamble more to avoid problems.
26
• Over 60 percent of lifetime problem gamblers are male.
27
• Women have more guilt and shame attached to their gambling due to a greater awareness of the negative impact of gambling on their families.
• Considerably more men than women enter treatment programs because of the greater social stigma attached to gambling for women than for men.
28
A positive note for both men and women is that compulsive gambling can be overcome through treatment programs incorporating the Gamblers Anonymous concept. All who pursue a lifestyle of gambling would do well to heed the following admonition:
“Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
have the wisdom to show restraint
.
Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone
,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle”
(P
ROVERBS
23:4-5).
AUSES OF
G
AMBLING
What began as a roast ended with a public display of repentance. Hearty laughter was soon followed by heaving sobs.
About 500 people had gathered to honor the twenty-fifth anniversary of Pete Rose’s breaking of Ty Cobb’s batting record and to hear Pete’s former Cincinnati Reds teammates poke a few jokes at his expense. When the laughter was over, however, Pete’s actions revealed the tremendous toll his gambling addiction had taken on him.
“I disrespected the game of baseball,” Pete confessed before the crowd. “When you do that, you disrespect your teammates, the game, and your family.”
29
And with that, he broke down and began to sob.
Before addicts can experience a lasting change of behavior they must have a genuine change of heart. The Bible says,
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise”
(P
SALM
51:17).
Pete Rose has been a man of many labels: husband, father, baseball great, manager, and gambler. In light of his gambing, we can add two more to the list: risk-craver and sensation-seeker.
Pete said his propensity to live life on the edge led to his addiction. The exhilaration of the “big win” always temporarily met his insatiable need to take risks in order to experience an emotional high.
“I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was pushing toward disaster,” Pete recalled. “A part of me was still looking for ways to recapture the high I got from winning batting titles and World Series championships. If I couldn’t get the high from playing baseball, then I needed a substitute to keep from feeling depressed.”
30
Causes abound for the
why
of compulsive gambling. All behaviors have a point of origin. Behaviors that result in physical, emotional, or spiritual pleasure are often pursued repeatedly to the point they develop into behavioral patterns…then habits…then addictions. Like muscles, the more a behavior is exercised, the stronger it becomes.
The Bible tells us to say
no
to all kinds of “worldly passions.” God gives us the grace—the strength we don’t have—to say
no
.
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men
.
It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and
to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age”
(T
ITUS
2:11-12).
Here are five reasons people are drawn into addictive gambling:
•
The Escape from a Normal Existence
– Gambling creates a unique atmosphere very different from a person’s normal existence.
– The excitement and entertainment generated by gambling serve as powerful distractions from daily problems.
– Gamblers are exposed to diverse surroundings, sights, sounds, and smells that powerfully arouse the senses.
•
The Enchantment of the Atmosphere
– Eye-catching, posh settings create an engaging environment that pleases the senses.
– An abundance of appetizing foods and drinks draws people and sustains the gambling experience.
– Sounds of people talking, laughing, and gambling create an energized atmosphere.
•
The Exhilaration of the Bet
– Gambling arouses excitement due to risky bets on uncertain outcomes.
– The fun and excitement of winning releases a flood of euphoric feelings.
– The hope of winning a jackpot stimulates a steady stream of adrenaline that further fuels a sense of euphoria.
•
The Endorsement of Fellow Gamblers
– Gambling creates the illusion of camaraderie and connectedness.
– Being surrounded by so many other gamblers endorses the behavior.
– The growing number of people who gamble first within their families and then in public results in fewer stigmas attached to gambling and is aiding in the empowerment of gamblers.
•
The Elevation of Brain Chemistry
31
– Recent studies reveal a relationship between compulsive gambling and deficiencies of the chemicals norepinephrine and serotonin.
– Gambling causes the brain to produce enough norepinephrine to create a chemical high in those with normally lower levels of norepinephrine than what social gamblers possess.
– Both winning and anticipating winning activates the brain of a gambling addict like cocaine activates the brain of a cocaine addict.
These recent findings further confirm the power addictive behaviors have over those who practice them. Clearly, addictions affect not just behavior but the whole person—body, soul, and spirit. To acknowledge only one aspect of an addiction is to leave the remaining two-thirds unaddressed and untreated. Exploring the causes of addictions—taking into account
the whole person
—is critical to discovering solutions for the addicted.
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through
and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be
kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”
(1 T
HESSALONIANS
5:23).
Gambling MythsQ
UESTION
:
“What are some common myths about gambling that many people embrace as truth?”
A
NSWER
:
Unfortunately, many myths give people false hope of winning a game of chance. These mistaken notions appear logical on the surface but they are based on erroneous thinking and lead many to take risks they might not otherwise take. Here are some of the most problematic myths:
Myth:
There are strategies to increase your odds of picking winning numbers.
Fact:
No such strategies exist for predicting winning lottery numbers because the odds of winning never change. Every number has an equal chance of being drawn each time a drawing occurs because each drawing contains the same numbers, every time, no matter what numbers were previously drawn. There is no basis for developing a strategy to win when winning is based solely on chance or luck. If you’re lucky, you win, and if you’re unlucky, you lose.
Myth:
The odds of a color or a number winning are increased if they haven’t won for a while.
Fact:
It doesn’t matter how many times a number or color is selected by chance; the odds of it coming up again as a winner are the same each time. For example, because a roulette wheel always has an equal number of red and black spaces, the odds of landing on either color remains constant at 50/50 with each new spin of the wheel.
Myth:
People who experience a string of losses usually manage to recoup their money by putting together a winning streak.
Fact:
The gambling industry could not exist if this were true. No casino or any other gambling establishment could stay in business if their customers “broke even.” The startling truth is that not only do gamblers lose, they lose big—often to the tune of everything they own and hold.
“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old
wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly”
(1 T
IMOTHY
4:7).
Besides being a risk-craver and sensation-seeker, Pete Rose cited two other factors that set him up to form a gambling addiction—Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).
ADHD is associated with inattentiveness, difficulty in focusing or concentrating, and hyperactivity. ODD is diagnosed from a pattern of hostile and defiant behavior toward authority figures. Dr. David E. Comings of the City of Hope National Medical Center assessed Pete’s childhood behavior and made the following observations:
C. What Are Common Demographics Among Problem Gamblers?Pete’s personality as described by his teachers is very telling: a bright kid but bored by classroom activities, sensitive to criticism or rejection, stubborn and strong-willed, will not comply with the rules, tests the limits with every adult, short-tempered, inattentive, and aggressive—textbook ADHD, which is genetically linked to gambling in adults.
32
What were “the odds” that Pete Rose would become a problem gambler?
He shares demographic traits that are common among problem gamblers, such as the presence of mood disorders and a parent who has a mood disorder. Pete has fought a lifelong battle with ADHD as well as a persistent struggle with ODD, which he claims he got from his mother.
33
Pete’s lower socioeconomic status during his growing-up years also links him with problem gamblers. He grew up in a clapboard house alongside railroad tracks, and once reflected, “The Roses might have been poor…but we were resourceful!”
34
Specific personal situations can cause a greater possibility that someone could become addicted to gambling. But don’t be deceived—individual choice still plays a big part in all behaviors. The Bible tells us that “the mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning” (Proverbs 14:6).
Some common denominators have been identified in studies conducted over the years:
• Family history of addictions
• Lower socioeconomic status
• Member of a minority group
• Presence of a mood disorder (e.g., ADHD)
• Parent who has a mood disorder (about 25 percent of compulsive gamblers)
Q
UESTION
:
“What causes certain youth to be vulnerable to addictive gambling?”
A
NSWER
:
Apart from the common demographics, younger gamblers choose gambling to overcome typical problems of youth: low self-esteem (seeking attention from peers), yielding to peer pressure (low impulse control for risk taking), and a problematic home life. They can easily become hooked by an early “big win,” but there are additional distinctive contributing factors unique to youth who gamble:
• Early age gambling (approximately 10 years of age)
• Parental approval of youth gambling
• Parents who overemphasize money and possessions
• Parents who are overly comparing and competitive
• Youth who pridefully identify themselves as “gamblers”
• Youth who believe they cannot become addicted
Younger gamblers who think they are invincible—that they are not vulnerable to the devastation of prolonged gambling—need to take this biblical advice:
“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue
righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those
who call on the Lord out of a pure heart”
(2 T
IMOTHY
2:22).
For too many years, Pete Rose operated under multiple wrong beliefs about gambling that kept him in the world of addiction. The rush of exhilaration blinded Pete to the devastating addiction that ultimately characterized his life. Contrary to the wrong belief that “a little gaming never hurt anybody,” Pete discovered that his huge gaming habit hurt a lot of people—family, friends, teammates, and an adoring public who considered him a role model.
“All a man’s ways seem innocent to him
,
but motives are weighed by the L
ORD
”
(P
ROVERBS
16:2).
We are all created with three God-given inner needs for love, significance, and security.
35
Those who turn to God as their Need-meeter through faith in Jesus Christ look to Him to meet these legitimate needs. But those who fail to rely on Him instead look to themselves or to a myriad of other substitutes to meet these needs.
If your life is controlled by any addiction, you are not allowing God’s loving strength to give you victory. You are controlled by the addiction instead of allowing Christ to have control of you. Yet you have the opportunity to accept this truth: When you turn away from relying on yourself and toward relying on Christ, He has the power to set you free.
“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”
(J
OHN
8:32).
W
RONG
B
ELIEF
:
“A little gambling never hurt anybody. After all, life itself is a gamble…so gambling is just taking a normal chance. Besides, everybody wants something for nothing, and gambling provides that opportunity. I’m not addicted—I just gamble for entertainment.”
R
IGHT
B
ELIEF
:
“I realize that what I depend on in my life will have control of my life. I’m choosing not to let any activity, including gambling, have control over me. Instead, I choose to give Christ control of every area of my life and to depend on Him to satisfy my needs.”
“His divine power has given us everything we need
for life and godliness through our knowledge of him
who called us by his own glory and goodness”
(2 P
ETER
1:3).
TEPS TO
S
OLUTION
Members of Gamblers Anonymous, an international self-help organization for gambling addicts, share a joke among themselves that rings with time-tested truth:
Question:
How do you know when a compulsive gambler is lying?
Answer:
When you see his lips move!
36
After more than a decade of lying, Pete Rose finally owned up to his addiction and thrust himself into another battle: pursuing reinstatement back into the world of professional baseball along with induction into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.
Setting personal goals in life and pursuing them provides us with a sense of purpose. The key is to set and pursue God-ordained goals first, giving them priority in our lives.
“Pursue righteousness, godliness
,
faith, love, endurance and gentleness”
(1 T
IMOTHY
6:11).
After decades of being banned from baseball, Pete Rose’s passion to be reinstated burns as strong as ever. He made an official attempt to be reinstated in September 1997, but the baseball commissioner refused to lift the ban. Talks and negotiations have continued through the years, but today Pete’s name still remains on the blacklist.
Pete’s money problems have also extended past gambling, with tax troubles having dogged him through the years as well. In April 1990, Pete pleaded guilty to two felony counts of filing false income tax returns, served five months in prison, and was fined $50,000.
37
Just looking at Pete’s life, it could have been so different had he sought help and wisdom from above.
“First seek the counsel of the L
ORD
”
(1 K
INGS
22:5).
When it comes to being barred from baseball and the Hall of Fame, Pete Rose has been anything but accepting or content with his punishment. He believes the punishment far outweighs the crime, complaining he is “sick and tired of the double standard.”
38
Pete is frustrated that other people with addictions (alcoholics and drug abusers) have been allowed into the Hall of Fame, but he believes the charge of gambling carries too much notoriety. “I never raised a hand to either of my wives or any of my children. Yet there are wife beaters in the Hall of Fame.”
39
Pete continually compares himself with others and isn’t about to be content! As a result, he has anything but peace. There are many who have gained freedom from gambling, but only after getting the right perspective on what brings true contentment.
G
IVE
U
P
G
AMBLING, AND
G
AIN
C
ONTENTMENT
1 T
IMOTHY
6:6-11
Six Facts and One Act
•
F
ACT
#1:
If you desire great gain, pursue godly contentment, not monetary gain.
“Godliness with contentment is great gain”
(
VERSE
6).
•
F
ACT
#2:
You didn’t bring anything into this world when you were born, and you won’t take anything with you when you die.
“We brought nothing into the world, and
we can take nothing out of it”
(
VERSE
7).
•
F
ACT
#3:
You can find true contentment by trusting in God’s provision for your life.
“If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that”
(
VERSE
8).
•
F
ACT
#4:
The pursuit of wealth leads to bitter bondage, deadly desires, and addictive actions that result in ruin and self-destruction.
“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and
a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires
that plunge men into ruin and destruction”