Keeping Your Balance

We asked in a recent post what might be holding you back from taking up poker -- even if only at a free "just for fun" event.  After thinking that over, we think an important P.S. needs to be added.

Some people might be wary of poker because it can lead to a gambling addiction.  Perhaps they've had other bad habits (smoking, alcohol, etc.), and they realize the risk of trading one addiction for another.

That's a legitimate concern.  An important principle, in both poker and life in general, is that of moderation:

Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. - Philippians 4:5 (KJV)

We've heard ministers say things are not necessarily wrong -- but how you use them can make them wrong.  Notice what else the apostle Paul (who wrote Philippians) advised along this line....

Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. - I Timothy 5:23

Yes, a Biblical apostle endorsed wine-drinking -- but not to an extreme.  He wrote "a little," not a lot.  And everyone has a different threshold with alcohol: some can tolerate more than others, without getting into serious trouble.  That can be true with poker as well.

So it's OK to start playing poker with a cautious approach.  That can be true with handling your cards and chips -- and even with playing the game at all.  If you find yourself feeling drawn to an addiction, pull away for awhile.  Walk with care -- and handle your play that way, too.