Text Game or Text Gambling?

It sure sounds tempting. In a nation of 82 million people where over 30

million are suffering from poverty, 3.4 million are unemployed and 4.7
million others have no regular source of income, there is a chance that
one of them could become an instant millionaire.
Call it a "rags to riches" tale, a Cinderella story, or a "get-rich-quick"
scheme, but nothing perhaps is as tempting as the thought that you
could be the lucky winner of a million-peso jackpot prize in the latest
game craze called text games. You begin to ask, is there any other way
to escape poverty this quick in a country where the rich rules and the
poor reduced to doing the hard labor?
The fact that the odds of winning is there, however limited it may be
(1:10,000,000 perhaps), just makes you think you could be the next
winner. Why not? Somehow, you believe that the stars in the sky have
charted your fate or that your new status in life would be revealed
soon. Or somehow, you have prayed day and night for this and you
think God wants you to enjoy a comfortable life.
Never mind the millions of others who won't be as lucky. You convinced
yourself that they have their own fate. Never mind if they have your
dream also, or they share your opinion about fate. Maybe they have
not prayed hard enough or they are not as worthy as you are to win
the prize. Never mind if each one of them (and there are millions of
them) lost P10 in every text message he or she had sent to television
or radio game shows.
Never mind if the prize money is the pooled resources of every
desperate dreamer in this country. Just think that you, the lucky
winner, have finally made your dreams come true while others are
continuously betting on their desperate hopes. What is important is
your new fate. Right?
Winning a million pesos or more has never been as easy as this. Just
send a text message to a four-digit number, specifically designated by
a mobile phone service provider, and you could have a chance of a
lifetime. So easy and convenient are the procedures of these new
games that you don't have to fall in line, like when buying a lottery
ticket or wait for the "kobrador", like when betting on a numbers game
called "jueteng".
You could send a text message or SMS (short messaging service),
worth P10 each, anytime or anywhere you want. While this is a lot

more expensive than the ordinary SMS, which is worth only P1 each,
the reward could be a million pesos or more, once your number is
selected among millions of entries.
One logical strategy to increase your chances at the jackpot is to send
as many text messages as your load can avail of. You could send a text
message, even when you are about to sleep or when you have just
wakened up from a nice dream about becoming rich ultra quick.
And once your number is chosen among millions of text messages sent
by other texters who are obviously banking on the same dream, you
can be sure that the prize is legal (Isn't it?), unlike when winning the
jackpot in "jueteng" which we must emphasize is illegal in this country
(Remember the EDSA 2 revolt?).
One limitation of text games, however, is that only subscribers of
mobile phone networks could join. At the latest news, over 12 million
Filipinos have mobile phones, most of them GSM (Global System for
Mobile Communications) capable. There is also this question about
whether text games are really a game or just a marketing tool of the
mobile phone networks. For example, different products also give away
millions of pesos to those who patronize them.
Is there anything that sets text games apart from the usual marketing
strategies of different products? Does paying P10, instead of the usual
P1 for a text message and a chance to win a million bucks make it a
game? Does the sender of a P10 text message, instead of the usual P1
text message, get something in return, aside from a chance to win
millions of pesos?
Isn't a game synonymous to a competition? Is gambling synonymous
to competition? When you compete, what do you do? Do you just wait
and see until luck strikes you? In text games, do you have control of
the situation or do something to improve your chances, without
shelling extra money? Do you compete in text games, in the way that
you invest your effort, time, and skills on expectations that you would
reap the rewards later?
If it is indeed a game, what are the risks involved? If it is a game, what
are the skills or talents involved? If it is a game, is there a fair chance
of winning the prize? If it is a game, what are the rules? If it is a game,
are there more spectators than players? If it is a game, who will be
generous enough to donate millions of pesos as prize and why?
Where does every P10 go in the first place? To the prize money? You
mean the winner will get for himself every P10 wagered by millions of

losers? Do telecommunications and broadcast companies get a share

in the prize money? Does the government get a share in the prize
money? Who profits most from text games? Are there more winners
than losers in text games? How big is each player's chance to win the
jackpot? Can all players win once in their lifetime?
If text games are a form of game, what keeps them from being labeled
as a form of gambling? Isn't a numbers game like jueteng or lotto
considered a form of gambling although the latter is legal in the sense
that the government regulates it. So, gambling can be either legal or
illegal in this country. It is for you to decide whether text games are
another form of gambling. Granted that it is a form of gambling, it is
legal anyway, right? The question is, "Should we engage in it just
because it is legal?"
Even the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), the staterun gambling agency, is convinced that text games perpetrated by
broadcast stations and telecommunication firms are a form of
gambling and wants them regulated.
Senator Robert Jaworski said these text games have been draining the
Filipinos of their hard-earned money. Before this, the National
Telecommunications Commission bared that some 110 million text
messages are sent to these text games daily, with each text message
costing from P2 to P10. At the minimum, these text games generate at
least P220 million daily.
A Nation That Doesn't Learn
Poverty is a grave problem in this country. All people want to escape
poverty, so what's wrong with risking P10 for a chance to win millions
more? Here's what's wrong with gambling. Gambling doesn't resolve
poverty because it only worsens the inequitable distribution of wealth,
which is bad in this country. [There are four US dollar billionaires in this
country while more than half of the population (40 million) live on less
than US$2 a day.]
In gambling, when a person wins, millions of other players lose. For
every millionaire created by gambling, there are millions of losers who
are dragged deeper into poverty (they lost P10 for nothing right?).
Gambling doesn't create wealth, because no product or service is
produced. It only facilitates the movement of money from the hands of
many to the hands of one person or a few. Gambling in fact diminishes
labor productivity, because it distracts the focus and attention of the
people from the more important task of production.

Sadly, this country is not able to derive any lesson from the fall from
Malacanang Palace of former President Joseph Estrada on allegations
that he profited from illegal gambling. It is like failing to derive any
lesson from the Payatas disaster in August 2000 when hundreds of
poor people were buried under tons of garbage, which was
incomparable in history.
The existence of gambling here is not just a manifestation that
fantasies are aimlessly pursued in this country; it is a statement of the
mindset of its people and of the moral standards of its leaders. When
will they ever learn?
What's Wrong with Gambling?
Gambling is a game of chance, fuelled by desires for a significant prize
at stake - which is actually the pooled resources of all players who are
all interested in getting rich or richer quick. Gambling feeds on
desperate hopes, strong desires or weaknesses of the betting public.
The most common forms of gambling are lottery or numbers game. In
Philippine lotto, for example, when a person wins, millions of others
lose. The government consoles the losers by assuring them that a
share of their loss goes to charity.
The Bible cautions us against falling into gambling, hastening to get
rich or focusing on the pursuit of money. "People who want to get rich
fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful
desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of
money is a root of all kinds of evil. (I Timothy 6:9-10)
Gambling offers a prize money, which is actually the pooled resources
of all players. Since it is their money, winning their money even by
means of a legalized form of gambling does not make it a less sin. For
all you know, you are not only stealing their money, you are stealing
their hopes also. One of the commandments read in part: "You shall not
covet...anything that belongs to your neighbor." (Exodus 20:17 in part)
People are encouraged to work their way to sufficiency and are
discouraged from pursuing fantasies like becoming rich all of a sudden.
"He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases
fantasies lacks judgment." (Proverbs 12:11)
One proven formula for success is perseverance. "All hard work brings
a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." (Proverbs 14:23)
"Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by
little makes it grow." (Proverbs 13:11)

The economic principles in the Bible are directed towards the greater
good of a nation, rather than the prosperity of only one person. Labor
and production are two of the most important aspects of economic
productivity. Here, each person contributes to the growth of the
economy and should therefore receive his fair and just share. A prayer
in the Book of Proverbs reads: "Give me neither poverty nor riches, but
give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and
disown You." (Proverbs 30:8 in part)
The importance of hard work shall never be ignored. "By the sweat of
your brow, you will eat your food." (Genesis 3:19) "If a man will not
work, he shall not eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10) The importance of
sharing shall never be overlooked. "He who has been stealing must
steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own
hands, that he may have something to share with those in need."
(Ephesians 4:28)
Of course, the Bible promotes justice through love and sharing. It is
consistent in saying that wealth doesn't make a man any better.
"Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life
does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (Luke 12:15)
Rather, the Lord wants all men to help each other. "Do unto others
what you would have them do unto you." (Matthew 7:12) Helping each
other would come easily if we love one another as Jesus commanded.
"Love each other" (John 15:17).
Paul, the first missionary, described love this way. "Love is patient, love
is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude,
it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of
wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It
always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love
never fails." (I Corinthians 13:4-8)
How can we show our love to our brothers? "This is how we know what
love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down
our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees
his brother in need but has no pity in him, how can the love of God be
in him?" (I John 3:16-18)
Our attitude towards work should be as if we are working for the Lord.
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the
Lord, not for men." (Colossians 3:23)
Instead of chasing fantasies or believing in fate charted by the stars

(the Bible warns against these practices), why don't we put our faith
and trust in God, who loves us more than we can understand. "Keep
your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you
have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake
you.'"(Hebrews 13:5)
God does not want you to remain in poverty. He has something great in
store for you. Have you ever tried asking Him for help? "Ask and it will
be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be
opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds;
and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)
One of the most important questions about man's purpose in life is
this: "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet
forfeits his soul?" (Matthew 16:26) That question doesn't remain a
question because Jesus Christ has given a wonderful response. "But
seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will
be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for
tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its
own." (Matthew 6:33-34)
Oftentimes, we fail to realize how great God's love is. We easily
question His justice, when we get deprived of what we consider good
things in life. Such is our attitude towards God, without realizing that
He has already provided us with the best gift in life - something far
more significant than P1 million. He gave us righteousness, or
purification from sin, through the sacrifice of His Only Son.
Two thousand years ago, the Son of God was born as a man in
Bethlehem. So sinful have men become that only a perfect sacrifice
could cleanse us of our sins. No man could be a perfect sacrifice
because all of us were sinners. Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God,
became the perfect sacrifice who redeemed us from death.
Why did Jesus Christ have to die for our sins? "The law requires that
nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of
blood there is no forgiveness." (Hebrews 9:22) God told Moses: "For the
life of the creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make
atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes
atonement for one's life." (Leviticus 17:11)
The blood of Christ, the perfect sacrifice, had to be shed for our
atonement. Jesus Christ "did not enter by means of the blood of the
goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by
His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption." (Hebrews 9:12)
"We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus

Christ once for all." (Hebrews 10:10)

Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead and His ascension to Heaven
where He sits at the right hand of His Father completed the redemption
of those who believe in His name. He is our priest in Heaven, reminding
His father of His sacrifice that bought our salvation. "Because Jesus
lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to
save completely those who come to God through Him, because He
always lives to intercede for them." (Hebrews 7:24-25)
This is the good news of salvation for all. All we need to do is accept
His grace of salvation by believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God,
who offered His human body as a sacrifice for us and that God raised
Him from the dead. "When you were dead in your sins and in the
uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ.
He forgave us all our sins." (Colossians 2:13)
What can be more precious than the assurance of eternal life with
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior? Instead of betting our money (with
one-on-a-millionth chance) on a temporal wealth, why don't we put our
faith in God who offers us a 100 percent salvation in Jesus Christ His
Son?
This is the promise of Jesus Christ. "I am the bread of life. He who
comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will
never be thirsty." (John 6:35)
What wealth can be compared to those found in God's Kingdom? Jesus
Christ is inviting us to become a part of His Kingdom. "Here I am! I
stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the
door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me. To him who
overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I
overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." (Revelation 3:
20-21)
Below is a suggested prayer:
God, the Most High, praise be to Your name forever. I am
humbled by Your love and holiness. Forgive me for not
trusting You and for desiring to become rich quickly. Forgive
me for wanting to get for myself the money of other people by
buying a chance for a large prize money from their pooled
resources. Forgive me for pursuing fantasies about me getting
a larger share of the world's wealth, which you want all people
to enjoy. Forgive me Lord for all my sins. I praise You for the
sacrifice that Jesus Christ made to save me from the outcome

of my sins. I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and

want Your Holy Spirit to dwell in me, so that I will always keep
Your decrees in my heart and know which things I should not
do, even though the world considers them legal . Let me live
as a new creation, eager and willing to do Your will forever.
Glory to You, our God in the highest. I pray, in the name of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen!
My friend, if you want to know more about the life offered by Jesus
Christ and the wonderful things that He has done for us, we invite you
to visit these websites: http://emmaus.50megs.com and
http://www.cbphilippines.org or fill up the forms below

Open Line
Prayer is an open line to Heaven. No cards to use, no low bat problem,
no charging, always good signal, and all messages sent.
For sure, nobody can be a greater text mate than our Lord Jesus Christ.
He always waits for our message and responds in many wonderful
ways. All we need to do is open our heart to His signal. The reward, my
friend, is our salvation!
The world we live in is full of sins, starting from the motives of our
mind to the emotion of our hearts. Arrogance, lies and personal desires
deprive us of dignity and honor. Corruption, narco-politics, crimes,
terrorism and trade irregularities are troubling this country, and you
like many other Filipinos, feel helpless.
There are those who decided to take up arms, but they themselves fell
to sin. The media, in spite of its many pretensions of being upright,
only makes things worse. You see ads and TV programs promoting
sexual desires, homosexuality and other forms of immorality, and you
begin to be convinced that they are funny and entertaining. But who
finds the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah entertaining?
The truth, my friend, is that our heart teems with evil desires. We are
discriminating and proud, looking down on those who are poor. We
cherish our possessions in life and are glad we have things other
people don't. We treasure our beautiful friends and move away from
those we consider "losers". We save for our future, but our future
would be over soon. Then comes death. What have we done with our
lives?

My friend, some philosophers think they have found clues to life.

Haughty as they are, they make us think they are wise and attempt to
lead us further into confusion. The truth is they do not have an idea
about what they are talking about and realize this at their deathbed.
Paul once asked: "Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where
is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of
the world?" (I Corinthians 1:20)>
Some people think they are upright and discriminate against those who
do evil things. The truth is they are proud and pretentious. "For all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). The prophet
Jeremiah said we cannot do good because we are accustomed to doing
evil (Jeremiah 3:23).
Being sinful has its price - death. Paul said: "For the wages of sin is
death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord"
(Romans 6:23).
All people, including you and me, have sinned against God. But God
loves us so much that "He gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). God
wants us back into his arms. He sent His son Jesus Christ from heaven
to die as a man for our sins. By dying on the cross, Jesus Christ
redeemed our sins and now offers us a new life. After resurrecting from
the dead and ascending to Heaven, Jesus Christ, who Himself is God, is
offering us the greatest gift of all.
What Jesus Christ offers us is the grace of salvation. He wants us to
have a new life free from sin. "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians
5:17)
By accepting Jesus Christ as the One who saved us from the
punishment we deserve, we transport from death to life. Paul said:
"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your
sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our
sins" (Colossians 2:13). John the apostle said: "Whoever hears God's
word and believe in Him who sent Jesus Christ has eternal life. He has
crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24).
In Jesus Christ, we have a new life. We can look forward to a future that
holds eternal joy. We say these things to you because these are true,
and because God wants you to know that He loves you very much. In
Jesus Christ, we pray for your salvation. Remember that Jesus keeps an
open line. Why don't you send Him a message through prayer right

now!
God, the most high, I praise You for your great kindness. I thank You for
sending Jesus Christ from Heaven, so that He can deliver me from the
sins of Earth. I confess that I am a sinner and receive the grace of your
salvation through Jesus Christ. From now on, I accept Jesus Christ as
my Lord and Savior and allow Him to prevail upon my old self so that
He will lead me from death to life. Glory to You, our God in the highest.
I pray, in the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen!
My friend, if you want to know more about Jesus Christ and the
wonderful things that He has done for us, we invite you to visit these
websites: http://emmaus.50megs.com/ and
http://www.cbphilippines.org/ or send an email to juan