Remember As You Play....

No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. - Psalm 25:3 (NLT)

One of our most memorable poker hands was the night we sat in the Big Blind, watched K-8 turn into a dream full house on the flop.... and checked it.  A man next to us jumped all-in with A-6, and paid for it.


Some would say our check was deceiving - a "trap" to lure other players in.  Doesn't that hand prove our Bible verse wrong?

For that one hand, it did -- but think it through for a moment.  Didn't the all-in player look every bit as deceptive with his bet?  We never asked about his reasoning, but he bet a lot with relatively little.  It was a bet of overstatement.

By comparison, we came across as quiet, modest and humble.  We never told anyone to bet a single chip -- but someone did, and we benefited from his "jumping offside."  Even a minimal bet on our part could have brought the same result.

The Bible has several examples of characters who acted in deceptive ways.  The first prime example was a "serpent," thought to be Satan....

Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." - Genesis 3:13

That creature blatantly lied to Eve in the garden of Eden about God's character (verses 1-5) -- and Eve bought it.  What if Satan had said nothing?  If the serpent had never appeared?  Would things be much better for the human race today?  Or would human curiosity led to disobedience toward God, anyway?


We're left to speculate about how things would have played out.  But the Bible makes one thing clear: we should avoid harmful acts of deception.

A truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. - Proverbs 14:5

Be careful with what you say at the table - and to an extent, also be careful with the things you do.