JANUARY 9, 1 John 1:8-9

“Come on, Greg. Try your luck,” called Choon. He and several classmates stood in a group on the playground. “Just stand on this chalk mark and throw your 50-cent coin as close to that other mark as you can,” instructed Choon. “The one who gets closest wins all the money!”

Greg hesitated. This sounded like gambling. Then he shrugged and joined the others. He played three games, losing each time. “Oh, well,” he said, “I will get my money back tomorrow, plus a little more.”

Each day the boys played. Sometimes Greg won, but usually he lost all he put in. One day he lost all his lunch money. Greg went home very hungry indeed.

When he raided the refrigerator, Mom asked, “Why are you so hungry, Greg?” As he fumbled for words, Mom continued. “Your sister tells me you have been changing your lunch money into 50-cent coins at the store. What is going on?” Knowing he could not hide it much longer from his mother, Greg told her about the game. “Why, Greg! That is clearly gambling!” said Mom.

“It is a game of skill,” protested Greg. “The trouble is – I am not very good at it. But I am getting better!”

“I wonder if you are really being fooled, Greg. Or maybe you just don’t want to admit that what you are doing is wrong – that it is a sin,” said Mom. She frowned.“Tell me...how many legs a sheep has if you called its tail a leg?”

Greg laughed. “What a funny question! If you called its tail a leg, a sheep would have five legs.”

Mom shook her head. “No, it would not. It would still have four legs,” she said. “Calling its tail a leg would not make it a leg. And calling gambling by some other name – like skill – doesn’t change it. You have been playing a game of chance and wasting money. That is not pleasing to God.”

Thought: Have you been trying to cover up a wrong action by calling it a habit, a mistake, an imperfection – or some other such thing?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help me to always obey Your Holy Word. Teach me to resist sin, and to flee from temptation and friends who may lead me to sin against You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.