These are the smallest playing cards I have ever seen. My guess is that they are 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch, but I could be wrong about that. During the war between the states it was common for soldiers to pass the time playing cards. When preparing for an attack, it was also common for those same soldiers to throw away their cards, lest they die in battle and they still had them in their possession. Why, because preachers gave many sermons on the evils of card-playing!!! I have heard sermons from my youth and I have never, ever heard one sermon about card-playing!!! Is there anything wrong with it? Consider, it is just a game, a harmless past-time, or is it? Even if you only play for match-sticks or chips, its all about getting more and more and more from other people. You may or may not think this is important, but put money into the equation and you now have a recipe for trouble. Sin is like that; you can do something that seems harmless (like playing for match-sticks) but it may lead you on to bigger and more obvious sins. Its all about temptation, isn't it? Consider this passage from the book of James...
James Chapter 1
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord. 8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 But let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position; 10 and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away. 11 For the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in his pursuits.
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.
9 But let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position; 10 and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away. 11 For the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in his pursuits.
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.
Play cards, don't play cards; your choice!!! To avoid problems, ask yourself: does this activity (whatever it may be, not just cards) have the potential to lead me to something that can cause serious problems in my life by drawing me away from God? As far as cards go, I personally have no problem playing, just as long as its for something like match sticks.... beyond that, and I simply will not play!!!! Your life, your choice, but choose WISELY!!!!!
