The casino consisted of several rows of slot machines -- and little more. We looked around, walked right back to the car and drove away.
But the next day, we cashed in a "birthday bonus" at a casino near our home. We were awarded five dollars in free slot play. We picked a machine somewhat at random -- and in only a couple of minutes, our five-dollar gift went away with winnings of only 95 cents. That was enough for us.
Maybe we're wrong, but slot machines strike us as pure gambling. It's all luck, with no skill or thinking involved. We agree with the preachers who openly mourn the older people who drop dollar after dollar in this way.
Table games such as poker have a degree of luck, to be sure. But many times, you have to think a little and consider your chances. Exercising a bit of skill moves slightly toward fulfilling a proverb:
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished, but he that gathers by labor shall increase. - Proverbs 13:11 (KJV)
A different Bible translation puts the last part of the verse this way: "Money earned little by little will grow and grow."
That actually happened to us after our slot machine test. We sat down at an Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em table, won three hands in a row and gained $35. Then this happened:
BLINDS: $5/$5
IN THE POCKET: 4-6 offsuit
That doesn't look promising. But as some poker players like to say, any two cards can win. There's no penalty in checking, so we do.
ON THE FLOP: A-A-5
Not too thrilling for us. Maybe a longshot straight or full house will come. But we know better than to bet two times our blind on that. We check again.
ON THE TURN/RIVER: A-3
A man to our right suddenly is excited. Three Aces are on the table. If we had plunked down five more dollars on the "trips" option, that would have earned us $15 -- enough to break even. But we don't normally play trips at live tables (only online with pretend money), so we miss out. We fold.
When that man's turn comes to show his cards, he displays a fourth Ace! "Quads," the dealer announces to the pit boss.
That man truly has a reason to be excited. Quads pays 30 to 1 on the "trips" button, and 10 to 1 on the blind. He wins something in the neighborhood of $500. We sat one seat away from a jackpot.
At that point, we have to leave to go home and run errands. "Be sure to tithe on all that money," we tell the big winner. He nods a bit as he smiles -- leaving us to wonder if he knows what that word means.
You people are robbing me, your God. And, here you are, asking, "How are we robbing you?" You are robbing me of the offerings and of the ten percent that belongs to me. - Malachi 3:8 (CEV)
A "tithe" is ten percent. God has required that of believers since the days of ancient Israel.
I am the Lord All-Powerful, and I challenge you to put me to the test. Bring the entire ten percent into the storehouse, so there will be food in my house. Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing. - Malachi 3:10 (CEV)
The "ice bucket challenge" is a fad of the moment. God dares you to take the "ten percent challenge." We give God a tenth of our poker winnings, through the church we attend. Will you do the same, and claim His promise of abundant blessings?
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