Forthright Magazine
  Straight to the Cross
  http://www.forthright.net


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  When the love of money tempts you, say "Scam!"
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  COLUMN: Heavenly Connections

  Money Scams
  by Tim Hall 

  Our local newspaper carried a story the other day
  on scams that seem to be on the increase.
  Tennessee's attorney general, Paul G. Summers, was
  quoted giving this warning to the state's
  citizens: "The promise of good money for little
  work is very intriguing to many, and we want to
  make sure Tennesseans know they could lose their
  money as a result of these empty promises." I'm
  glad public officials are concerned about the
  safety of the citizens' money, and that they are
  willing to give such warnings. 

  The scam in question is one with which I've been
  approached two or three dozen times in the last
  year. An e-mail appears in my in-box from some
  dignitary of a foreign country (often it's
  Nigeria). An enormous sum of money is resting in a
  bank account, and this person needs my help in
  transferring it to the United States. In exchange
  for my help, I'm promised several millions of
  dollars. What the sender of this e-mail actually
  has in mind, though, is getting me to send chunks
  of money in the futile hope that I'll be
  handsomely rewarded. Futile hope -- it just ain't
  going to happen. But how many have sent large sums
  of money hoping to strike it rich with little
  effort?! 

  Let me be perfectly candid, though. As I was
  reading the quote from the attorney general, I
  couldn't help but see great irony in his words.
  Less than a year ago, voters in our state approved
  the creation of a state lottery. Our state
  government is now in the gambling business, just
  like most other states in the U.S. Soon they will
  be paying for ads on television, enticing people
  to lay down chunks of money for "the promise of
  good money for little work" (a quote from Mr.
  Summers; see above). The odds may be a little
  better of winning the lottery than in receiving a
  reward from the Nigerian official; but not much
  better. 

  Some are already objecting to where this article
  is obviously headed. "The Bible doesn't condemn
  gambling!" they rush to insist. No, the Bible does
  not condemn gambling per se. But there are plenty
  of principles that are relevant to this issue. 

  Most would agree that Jesus' words in Luke 6:31
  are to be foundational for Christians: "And just
  as you want men to do to you, you also do to them
  likewise" (New King James Version). The Golden
  Rule teaches us to wish for others the same good
  things we wish for ourselves. But that's
  impossible when we gamble. The purchase of a
  lottery ticket implicitly says "I hope no one
  except me wins". For me to win, everyone else must
  lose. Is that a Christ-like attitude? 

  Here's another principle in question: "Let him who
  stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor,
  working with his hands what is good, that he may
  have something to give him who has need"
  (Ephesians 4:28). One reason able-bodied people
  work is to have something to give to those who are
  in need. But gambling uses that "surplus income"
  (and often much more besides). How can I give to
  others when I'm throwing it to the wind in the
  long-shot hope of a windfall? 

  One other principle we'll mention is that found in
  1 Timothy 6:6: "Now godliness with contentment is
  great gain." One who is content will see no need
  to put money in jeopardy -- money that might be
  used to help with needs elsewhere. One who is
  content doesn't have that constant craving for
  more. We already consider ourselves rich, in terms
  which God defines. (Be sure to read the rest of
  this chapter for other advice on money.) 

  Lotteries, casinos, Internet gambling, sports
  betting -- they're all growing problems in our
  society. Why aren't our state officials warning us
  about these money scams? God has.