Living Large

The biggest poker tournament of the year in our state occurs this weekend.  But as usual, we will stay away -- because it's happening on a day when we avoid playing poker.  We've explained that reason here before.

But we'd like to focus on one of the side events - a "High-Roller Poker Tournament."  It has a $10,000 top prize, but a seat (along with free food and drinks) costs you $500.  (The entry fee goes to charity, which is a kind gesture.)

Lots of big poker events have tournaments like this.  The WSOP added a contest with a million-dollar buy-in a few years ago.  If you have a lot of money to spend, it's a chance to make a lot more.

The concept reminds us of something Jesus said....

...When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. - Luke 12:48 (NLT)

If you've earned a lot of money playing poker, what are you doing with it?  If you're only padding a bank account, we'd ask if that's really the right priority.  Consider what else Jesus said in this section:

And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn't prepared and doesn't carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. - Luke 12:47 (NLT)

Have you stopped to ponder what God wants you to do with your winnings?  We should note this principle goes far beyond money -- it could refer to an important job, or skills and talents in other areas.


Poker high-rollers should realize they'd better have a lot of money not merely to spend, but to lose.  Because in truth, most players in a tournament go home empty-handed.  We think it's a good idea to think about other ways to invest big winnings.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:19-21

Only a relatively few players will make the list of WSOP bracelet winners -- and unless you win a main event, that bracelet is likely to be forgotten years after you're gone.  What things are you doing which will last for eternity?  How are you being "rich toward God" (Luke 12:21) - doing things God is much more likely to reward? 

Play Or Stay Away?

"Are you playing?" a man asked us at work the other day when we brought up the state poker championship.

We would have joined a big crowd -- about 1,000 people competing in all.  And that's with the schedule divided into three tournaments; a ladies-only event and a "high roller" night with a $500 buy-in were added this year.

Yet this charity fundraising event had a critic or two this year.  We read about one complaint challenging its legality, in a state with tight gambling laws.  We understand the organizers cleared all the details through the District Attorney's office.  But that's not why we stayed away.

"They're playing on the Sabbath," we told the man at work.  Every tournament was like that -- either on Friday night or Saturday during the day.

"I put the King of Kings above pocket Kings," we added.  We think he understood -- but perhaps you don't.

If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord.... - Isaiah 58:13-14

We mark the Sabbath as the Bible originally did -- on the seventh day of the week, from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset (Genesis 1:31-2:3).  We're aware of some Bible verses which might open the door for some latitude.  For instance:

Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." - Mark 2:27-28

Jesus said these words -- and Jesus should be Lord of every life (Romans 10:9).  But we choose to not "go our own way" on the Sabbath.  And playing poker would be exactly that for us.  Instead, we give the Sabbath back to God with worship, study and prayer.

Oh yes -- who's the "King of Kings" we were talking about?

....Keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time -- God, the blessed and only ruler, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.  To him be honor and glory forever.  Amen. - I Timothy 6:14-16

Is Jesus your King?  And are you honoring Him, above any deck of playing cards or stack of poker chips?