CG Discussion Questions
“Christians and Gambling”
Mr Liew Heng San
13 Oct 2013
Summary:
Jeremiah 2, akin to other chapters in the same book, depicts God’s pursuit of His people and
the latter’s indifference to Him. God‘s love message delivered through prophet Jeremiah fell
unto deaf ears. Israel rejected God, took no heed of Jeremiah’s warning and continued to
embrace her waywardness. Obviously, the people knew the right way yet they chose their
own ways.
Bondage in the form of idolatry or gambling is a process and it has its devastating
consequences.
Scripture Reading and Discovery:
Read Jeremiah 2: 1-37.
Discussion:
1. When Israel succumbed to the ‘attraction’ of idolatry and faced the disciplines that came
thereafter, whose responsibility did God say it belonged to (v.17)?
2. A parallel was drawn from 2 Samuel 11:1-5. David stayed behind in Jerusalem while
Joab was sent to battle the Ammonites. As David roamed around his roof garden, his
eyes caught beautiful Bathsheba taking a bath. Did David entertain that ‘attraction’? Did
that happen despite God was present in David’s life?
3. (a) Despite having tasted the goodness of God’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt, how
did Israel now respond to God (v.20)?
(b) In that process of entertaining her idolatry, was Israel honest with herself to admit
that she had a problem (v.23)?
(c) What was Israel’s response when her bondage to pagan worship (involving sacred
prostitution acts etc.) grew over time (v.25)?
* Scripture verses quoted are from New Living Translation (NLT)
CG Discussion Questions
(d) In the midst of all these, did Israel still recognize God as a mighty Deliverer for her
problems (v.27)?
Applications:
1. The allurement of gambling, as the statistics had shown, can be bait to anybody,
regardless of age, religion, financial status and educational background. Sure, some
groups may be more prone than others, but the bottom line is, its negativity can ‘hook’
just anyone, if not careful. In Jeremiah 2:32, God revealed the root cause to Israel’s
problem; it says, “My people have forgotten Me”. How do we, as ‘young brides’, then
go back to our first love as described in v.2?
As you discuss, consider:
a. 1 Peter 5:8
b. Quote from Thomas Chalmers:
“A new affection is more successful in replacing an old affection than simply
trying to end it without supplanting it with something better… Even the strongest
resolve is not enough to dislodge an affection by leaving a void… It is not enough
to understand the worthlessness of the world: one must value the worth of the
things of God.”
2. Take the leap. Self-exclude yourself from the casinos. Your CG leaders have the
details.
3. The Bible is about God’s redemptive purpose. Thankfully, the story does not end with
the defiant Israelites being wiped off from the face of the earth. Yes, the discipline did
come, but God’s love for His people continued. When Judah (Jerusalem) fell to
Babylon, God was the One who raised Daniel and his friends, and subsequently,
Nehemiah to start the rebuilding of walls at Jerusalem, just to name a few. No matter
which stage your journey is right now – be it in the thick of gambling bondage or
other addictions, God’s love remains unchanging, unconditional. Spend some time to
talk things through with Him. He is waiting to embrace, as always.
* Scripture verses quoted are from New Living Translation (NLT)