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Commentary on "Freedom From Addictions"
Day 4: Tuesday, March 8, 2011 - Gambling
Overview
The discussion in the overview of this day's lesson is that even though the Bible doesn't prohibit gambling, it's hard to imagine Jesus or Paul working on the tables in Las Vegas. Then the author points out that gambling is associated with the love of money and is a way that Satan destroys those who are caught in its snare.
Observations
The parable from Matthew 25:15-30 is the Parable of the Talents. In this parable, each person is given "talents" according to their ability. The talents represent opportunities. One is given five talents, one is given two talents, and the last is given one talent. In the parable, the master matches the talents with the opportunities. In other words, a person with much ability is given much opportunity, and the person with less ability is given less opportunity. Two of the stewards are faithful, the last one is unfaithful. The first two take their talents and use the opportunities for the service of the master. They multiply what has been given them. Their original ability become even greater through faithful service. The last steward buries his one talent. He does nothing with it. We are not told the reason, but if he had used his ability toward the opportunity that his master put before him, then his abilities and opportunites would have multiplied just as the other two did. That is the difference between faithfulness and unfaithfulness. The question being asked is how are we stewarding what we have been given? This can be time, talent or treasure (money).
While it is true that gambling can become addictive and sinful, it's problematic to think that a "fix" to the problem is to address self-esteem issues as this commentary would suggest. There are likely many and varied feelings that cause a person to want to gamble, but the person who is a compulsive gambler has an addiction.
An addiction is an illegitimate way to meet a true need. Counterfeits of Life will never satisfy the desire deep in our hearts to connect with God.
The author suggests these things for treatment and to avoid relapse:
- Admit you have a serious problem.
- Quit
- Be alert and stay away from gambling or any stimulus that makes you want to gamble
- Enhance self-esteem
- Commune with God and cling to His promises
At first blush this sounds like a reasonable formula. The problem is that formulas really don't effect a heart change. God is interested in a dynamic, fluid and communicative relationship. When Jesus went home and left the Holy Spirit on earth, He made it possible for every person to communicate with Himself if they would only believe in the work of Jesus Christ, in the Gospel message. Jesus paid for every sin, every bad behavior, every little thing that I might even think about doing, all I have to do is receive this message.
Grace is not an excuse; rather grace effects change. Grace is unmerited favor. Luke 4:18,19 says this:
The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (HCSB)
This is taken out of Luke 4 when Jesus had just come from the wilderness when He was tempted by Satan. He then went to his hometown of Nazareth to teach in the Temple. Here's the amazing thing! Jesus is quoting Isaiah 61. The teachers in the temple taught straight through the Old Testament Scriptures and Jesus just walked in and taught from the very place they were already at in Scriptures. It was perfect placement and timing for Jesus to walk in and say this: Jesus is the recovery of sight to the blind and freedom from oppression and he IS the Lord's favor every day, every hour, every moment. Hebrews 4:7 calls it "Today".
Through Jesus Christ, freedom has been proclaimed and we can receive His rest every single day. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we operate from a place of victory instead of trying to clench and clutch a place of victory, with our teeth bared, hoping beyond hope that we'll "make it". There is true redemption, true salvation, true recovery in Christ.
The formula stated above, at the very least, needs to start with Jesus and His finished work. Until we turn to Christ and admit our sin, and agree with Him that all our works are nothing but filthy rags, we are still operating out of our own strength and that will eventually cause relapse.
When, on the other hand, we learn to rely on the strength of Christ who sets the captives and oppressed free, we operate out of a the same power that raised Christ from the dead. Resurrection power. Redeeming power. Power to save and keep us saved, and to not only give us eternal life, but abundant life Today as we submit and surrender to the Word of God.
When we realize that, we steward everything differently. Grace (unmerited favor) changes everything!
Summary
- The Parable of the Talents is about faithfulness or unfaithfulness to the gifts that God has given us to be Kingdom builders.
- Addictions serve to meet legitimate needs through illegitimate means.
- The compulsive gambler must learn to submit to the Word of Life. Only Jesus can satisfy the gambler's need to feel powerful. Self-esteem is affected by God, but it is not the essence of the problem, nor is it the cure.
Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised March 5, 2011. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.
Official Adventist Resources
Standard Edition Study Guide Week 11
Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 11
