By Karanja Peter

In Kenya, the phrases “Pata Potea” or “Bahati na Sibu Swahili,” used to describe betting, literally mean win or loss. Gambling has emerged as an attractive avenue for jobless foung people, especially among football fanatics. Some even end up sacrificing money that would usually be spent on food to try their luck.

Betting has been made easier and more pervasive here by the use of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) technology. This means that one only needs a simple phone that can send digits and some characters to sign in and play. You no longer need a complex smartphone, computer, or even access to wifi or the internet to participate in real-time betting. The growth in gambling has spread like fire in a kindling forest by the heavy winds of media houses and social media, which feed people advertisements showing joyous people who have won millions of dollars gambling.

Some [young adults] even end up sacrificing money that would usually be spent on food to try their luck [gambling].

“If only I win today I could have money and be rich. Lots of small teams are playing today and it’s the perfect chance for me to make money.” This was a response from a friend has he was staring and nodding into his phone and dreaming of striking gold. As he moved closer to me to show me how his selected football teams were doing on his phone, he began to tell me how much of a guru he had become and how much money he has won recently. Now, all he needed was for me to lend him money to do his magic.

These words of conviction and a certainty from my friends made me to think again and again how much easier we can get used to things that are unhealthy for us and even develop total confidence in them.

Jesus invites us to test his love for us and see how he can transform our lives for the better - be it in our finances, family, relationships, jobs, education, or other important areas of our lives. Here is what the Lord tells us, “Put me to the test and you will see that I will open the windows of heaven and pour out on you in abundance all kinds of good things.” - Malachi 3:10 Good News Bible

“Put me to the test and you will see that I will open the windows of heaven and pour out on you in abundance all kinds of good things.” - Malachi 3:10 Good News Bible

The method to test and see how good God can be is easy. Rather than putting our trust in games of chance, or in riches that fade, just invite him to your life and let that trust begin the journey to change it for the better.

Discussion Question: What is holding you back from fully trusting God to transform your life?