Money Scams
Posted by: forthright <forthright@...>
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.