August 20
The High Cost
of Easy Money
“Money gained in the wrong way disappears. But money gathered little by little grows.”
Proverbs 13:11 (NIrV)
Paul had never stepped foot in a casino before. It wasn’t really his thing. But here he was, in the middle of a neon-lit palace of temptation, the air thick with cigarette smoke and the sound of slot machines chiming like sirens. His best mate, James, grinned as he slapped a crisp hundred-dollar bill onto the blackjack table.
“Just for fun,” James said, tipping his beer toward Paul. “We play, we win, we leave.”
Paul hesitated but followed suit. A hundred bucks. That was the limit. No more.
At first, it was a rush. Paul won his first two hands and doubled his money. The dealer winked, sliding him a stack of chips. “You’re on fire, mate.”
James was cheering, and the drinks kept coming. The more they drank, the looser their bets got. A hundred turned into two, then five. Paul was up nearly a grand at one point. Easy money.
Then the tide turned. The cards got colder. The chips vanished faster than he could count. With every loss, Paul was certain the next hand would be his comeback. The pit boss brought another round of drinks, and the casino floor blurred in a haze of whiskey and flashing lights.
Before he knew it, he was down a thousand. Then two. The logic that had seemed so clear hours ago was gone. “We can’t stop now,” James slurred, his face flushed with alcohol and desperation.
Paul’s stomach churned, but he nodded. He’d win it back. He had to.
By the time reality hit, they were standing outside in the cold, broke and shaking. James stared at the crumpled ATM receipt in his hand—negative $4,000. Paul felt sick.
“What have we done?” he whispered.
James exhaled, pressing his palms into his face. “We got greedy, man. We thought we could cheat the system.”
Paul’s hands trembled as he pulled out his phone and scrolled to his banking app. It was real. Every dollar was gone. His mind raced—rent, bills, food. How would he explain this?
He closed his eyes and whispered a prayer he hadn’t spoken in years. “God, I messed up. I thought I could take a shortcut. I thought I was in control. Please help me find a way out of this.”
The weight of his decisions pressed heavy on his chest, but for the first time that night, his mind cleared. It was time to stop chasing easy money and start rebuilding—the right way.
Prayer:
Father, I confess that I have sought shortcuts, believing I could control my own fortune.
But I see now that true provision comes from You.
Help me to trust in honest work, to be patient, and to seek wisdom in my decisions.
When temptation comes, give me the strength to walk away.
Teach me to value what is earned little by little, and to trust in Your timing.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
