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A certain young man in our church found interest in poker and gambling to the point that he now works in a casino as a dealer. This has tremendously changed his life as he now works throughout the night and finds himself surrounded by gamblers and compulsive players. He has been approached by gamblers to play in tournaments as he has developed a great talent for poker. He reads many books about poker and watches movies about techniques, etc., to the point where he thinks he cannot accomplish anything but to play poker and win money. He dropped out of school and wants to earn his living by playing cards and gambling. He says that there is so much behind poker, so much thinking, and analysis compared to someone who would be working or studying.
 
The problem is that he keeps winning money and spends it carelessly. We spoke to him many times, visited him many times, and had him discuss this situation with his Confession Father, yet he still wants to continue in this path because he doesn't know what he wants to do with his life. His problem is that he has nothing other than poker that stimulates him, and says, school is obviously harder than playing cards.
 
This has greatly saddened his family and led them to a state of hopelessness. His relationship with God is weaker than ever and almost non-existing. I care very much about this young man because I know he has so much potential. I thank God for giving me the ability to communicate with him but I do not know what to do or say anymore, I feel that I am just repeating myself and those around him. I believe that only God will change him and that only through prayer we can achieve.

This information about one of our children is indeed profoundly distressing. It is important that the few friends he has, just as yourself, remain in his life doing exactly what you are doing, continuing to rally by his side, always trying to bring him to Christ just as the four loyal friends did with their paralytic friend who had succumbed to illness due to sin. His inability to help himself and the obstacles the good friends faced to get him the spiritual medicine directly from Christ which he desperately needed could have discouraged them, but they knew that Christ was the only answer. Thus, the Lord recognized their faith before He healed him (Matthew 9:2-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26).

Gambling has paralyzed your friend's senses and weakened his spirit. His illness is addiction and he is stuck in a very bad place. Unfortunately, he will probably not seek help until he hits the bottom. There is no doubt that this will happen once the winning streak ends; and it will. By then, he will have caused much damage to himself, to his future, and to many relationships.

His family needs support, encouragement, patience, and prudence. They should secure their assets and belongings so that when the gambling turns sour, he does not destroy his family's financial stability and wipe out all their savings, or even incur mounting debts under their names, thus, ruining their credit in the process.

 

He needs his loved ones to offer their most sincere fasts and prayers on his behalf. God can change hearts as the beautiful Psalm says, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).