Unless he's mentally unbalanced or a criminal there's no way that he desires the money to "come to him". He may desire it to go to a benificary, but it's still a far cry from casino gambling.
Look, you're making the argument that it's okay to covet as long as your motivations are good. I don't agree with that any more than I agree that it's okay to steal as long as your motives are good.
The fact is there are many types of ventures that fit this exact description and gambling is only one of them. I could take $50,000 and open up a bagel shop and rifle range and lose it all. I open the shop not to lose the money, but to risk the money in order to gain more.
Why do you want more money?
Or I could take the $50,000 and play poker in Atlantic City. Again, my skill as a player combined with other factors, uncontrollable, presents me with the opportunity to make a great gain, or to lose it all.
Sorry Dave...I'm trying to reconcile how we live our lives today with how they will be led in God's kingdom. Obviously it's impossible to escape the sin in our society entirely and God knows I'm far from perfect but that doesn't mean we don't let God work in us and obey his mandate to let him make us holy.
Unless he's mentally unbalanced or a criminal there's no way that he desires the money to "come to him". He may desire it to go to a benificary, but it's still a far cry from casino gambling.
The money still comes to his estate and can be distributed according to his "will." (Interesting word, no?) So spare me the simplistic "he's dead so he doesnt' care" argument. He obviously cares if he desires money for his beneficiaries.
And yes, you miss my point entirely. It is a far cry from casion gambling, but it is still gambling for money. And that was your definition.
Look, you're making the argument that it's okay to covet as long as your motivations are good. I don't agree with that any more than I agree that it's okay to steal as long as your motives are good.
Not at all. I am making the case that not all gambling for money is "coveting," hence sinful. Do you remember when you said it was, or do you wish to modify your definition now?
The fact is there are many types of ventures that fit this exact description and gambling is only one of them. I could take $50,000 and open up a bagel shop and rifle range and lose it all. I open the shop not to lose the money, but to risk the money in order to gain more.
Why do you want more money?
To prepare for the future. Do you not want to have an income in the future?
SD