From a gambler to a preacher.

This is a true story. However, certain unimportant details have been changed as the person is quite sensitive about his past.

I knew a very rich man who owned a rice-mill. He was so rich that he gave his only son a lot of money, daily pocket money that any child could not have spent in a week.

His son was given even more money as he grew up. With lots of money to spend and nothing much to spend it on, his son gambled with it. Fortunately, it was not a problem then as there was sufficient for him to lose and not feel the pinch.

However, as he grew older, he got married. Early years in marriage did not present any problem either as there were no children yet.

Time came for my friend to depart from this life.

Then, in time, his son’s family grew with the birth of three children and somehow life changed. He spent more and more time outside his home, gambling into the night. The stakes were also higher when adults gambled. Gradually, the rice-mill had to be sold.

Lack of money became the source of much discontent. There was insufficient food on the dining table. The children were often scolded by teachers for not paying their fees. The wife lead a lonely life, burdened each day with management of a home without the loving master. Dissatisfaction crept into the family and soon this was followed by quarrels. The family was no longer happy.

Just as the family was reaching breaking point, destiny puts out a hand to pull it back to firmer ground. Well, someone introduced Christianity to the man of the family. The son went to church. Since then, he was a changed man.

He became the responsible father, caring for his home, his wife, his children and went home early each day with his money spent on necessary things for the family. He attended church regularly, took interest in its activities and eventually became the pastor of his small town church.

Of course, other relatives were not happy as they were Buddhist or Taoist. I heard about the noise they made and told them, that although I am no Christian, I was happy for him as it had made him a better man. That is important to him and the happiness of his family.

And all good things can only come from God. For me, God did not belong to any religion. He was here before any religion was created. It is He who created the religions, not the other way round. And it is good to have religions, as can be seen how individuals have been saved from self destruction, just like this friend's son had been saved. So, for me, God is with me, with you and with us. God is our saviour, never the destroyer. Sometimes humans destroy under the excuse of God and religion. If they truly respect and worship God, they would never abuse His name.

Be it Christian, Muslim, Taoist or Buddhist, what does it matter? God saved this friend! That was good! Does it matter whether God came to him through Christianity, Islam, Taoism or Buddhism? What do you think? Please give us your comment. All comments are acceptable to me.

By the way, the pampered child in this true story did manage to get out of the rut through religion. Well, all religions are good and have a role to play, as Christianity did in this friend’s life.