Being Legalistic?

I used to be very negative towards to playing mahjong as I have always associate mahjong with gambling. I really hated gambling and I learned a painful lesson it was during my NS days after our Chinese New Year holidays we suppose book in to our camps and after we booked in one of the camp mate suggested that to have a few rounds of blackjacks.

At first I didn't want to join in but in the end I gave in due to peer pressure and that was the biggest mistake and that very night I lost all my red packets collections and it was a painful lesson. From that onwards my attitude towards gambling was very negative however that did not really stop me from visiting casinos and buying 4D and TOTO.

I only stopped gambling when a brother in Christ knock some sense into me. I used to have this thinking that I'm buying hope when I'm buying 4D or TOTO and Singapore Pools which is Singapore only legal lottery operator. Singapore Pools usually donate part of their profits to charities and I always tell myself if I didn't win I'm indirectly donating to charities.

Brother Alfred challenged me by asking what was the percentage that Singapore Pools is donating? If I really have the heart to donate I could have donated to the charities directly. Brother Alfred words struck me hard and it sets me into doing some soul searching and not long after I find myself completely stopped gambling and it has been 4 years that I have not bought a single lottery ticket.

Today I tried playing mahjong without money involved and I actually find this game interesting and it really helps to stimulate your mind in return its good. Playing mahjong can be considered as a form of fellowship provided that no money is involved.

Put it simple it is a thin red line if money is involved then its consider as a form of gambling otherwise it is just another game. Our walk with God can be enjoyable and interesting if only we could learn see things with a bird's eye view and refrained ourselves from being legalistic.