The Big Folder

We've been studying through one of the more complex books of the Bible lately. If you read carefully, you might come across a few apparent references to poker. For instance:

The fool folds his hands and ruins himself. - Ecclesiastes 4:5

A poker player looking for some "inspiration" might stumble across that verse, and resolve to play every hand during his next trip to the table. But we've seen plenty of players wind up in ruins taking that approach, too.

Verses like this are why we believe you should read the Bible carefully. This is not about poker at all - at least not directly. Consider the verses around it....

And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless.... Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. - Ecclesiastes 4:4, 6

The context here involves the work we do. Some people make a living playing poker, of course. Whether you do that or not, what is your motive behind the work you do? Verse 4 indicates some people act based on jealous envy of the success of others. That's a dangerous approach to take....

For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts.... greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy.... All these evils come from inside and make a man "unclean." - Mark 7:21-23

Jesus Christ said those words - declaring greed and envy "evil." But our main verse is in contrast to that. Someone who "folds his hands" and doesn't work at all will wind up in ruin.

Verse 6 shows the more balanced why of thinking. Earn a modest living peacefully, instead of overworking with a greedy intent. To borrow an old Rush Limbaugh phrase, going for it all can lead to a loss - in this case, loss of relationships and sound-minded priorities.

Hmmm - come to think of it, maybe there are poker lessons here. Play hands and games with a tranquil, peaceful state of mind, instead of a "get-even" philosophy. And don't overdo things, as you strive for success. After all, we've played long enough to know that sometimes a "fold" can be the best play of all.

The Green Monster

Our last post examined a variation of Pai Gow poker, where you can put chips on a "Fortune" button. If someone at the table makes four of a kind, everyone with chips on that button earns an "envy bonus."

Sounds strange, doesn't it - a bonus for envy?! Many times, it works the other way around. Poker players envy the success of others, try to copy them.... and wind up crashing out of tournaments or going bust at a cash game. Others envy someone else's possessions so much that they steal the items for themselves.

We'll let you do your own color research into why people become "green with envy" (as opposed to red or blue). But it's not the sort of emotion God wants us to have....

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy.... I Corinthians 13:4

Since the Bible tells us that "God is love" (I John 4:16), this shows envy is not one of His traits. In fact....

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery.... factions and envy.... those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. - Galatians 5:19-21

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. - James 3:16

If envy is a personal problem for you, we recommend repenting before God - then starting a new habit. Be happy when others are successful:

Honor one another above yourselves.... Rejoice with those who rejoice.... - Romans 12:10, 15

We realize at some poker tables, you might look weird doing this. But it's far better than letting envy eat away at your peace of mind - and maybe even your bank account.

We heard a message the other day that went deep into the topic of envy. It may reveal other areas of your life where you're "going green" in a bad way, and need to make some changes.

Button of Irony

While we waited for a spot to open at our most recent Texas Hold 'em poker tournament, we wandered around the casino and came to a different kind of poker: Pai Gow.

If we understand it correctly (please correct us if we're wrong), players are dealt seven cards. Then they put forward their two best in an attempt to beat the dealer - while the five remaining have their own showdown with the dealer.

But what struck us most about Pai Gow was the "ENVY" button. Players can win a bonus if someone else at the top makes quads or better.

"From what I've read, envy is a bad thing," we said to the dealer. It was a quasi-joke. because....

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. - Proverbs 14:30

No matter what kind of poker you play, envy can creep in. If someone gets on a hot streak and wins several pots in a row, you can envy his or her success and want to get your own big stack of chips. But that can be a dangerous thing. Consider....

The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. - Genesis 4:4-5

Cain brought a "fruits of the soil" offering, which he probably presumed God would like. But God didn't. We think Cain's anger grew out of envy - and it led to a warning from God:

"If you do what it right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." - Genesis 4:7

Sadly, these were prophetic words - because verse 8 shows Cain eventually killed his brother in history's first recorded murder case.

So what is the right answer for fighting envy? It may sound incredibly simple - but it's the Bible's advice:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. - I Corinthians 13:4

To borrow from the U.S. political season, we should let love trump envy - and "overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). I Corinthians 13 deserves a close look, when it comes to what true love is all about. May godly love show from you in whatever game you play - and leave the "envy" for somebody else's wager.