What the Bible says about playing the lottery

Comment #10

Soledad — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 03:45:02 GMT

The real sin is thinking that there is sin. If you donâ€™t think it well then it can not effect you. Gambling can be a little difficult in terms of that though. However, if you can do it, well then whoâ€™s to say itâ€™s sin? I mean the world is not an easy place. Motivations intentions all matter. I was also taught not to mention that name, not Godâ€™s but.., you can read it on the wall in the beautiful gold lettering. The name can be said in your head of course. But only mention that name when you truly truly need it and never call it any bad name. But I know you didnâ€™t mean it, just careful of the judgements...:)... [ More ]

Comment #9

reddog — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 13:39:27 GMT

I know for a fact that the Pentecostal Church in N.C. would frown on gambling for I was reared in the Pentecostal Church growing up. I don't go there anymore but I always wondered if the Church would have accepted my 10% tithes if I had hit the big one. Probably. Gotta pay to keep the lights on at the Church.

Comment #8

Vergie6 — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 13:18:23 GMT

pretty sure the love of money played a big part in getting them in trouble. Manafort will probably spend the rest of his life in prison & Cohen will spend a few years...such a shame to have so much and look what has happened to them because of greed!<br

Comment #7

Vergie6 — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 13:00:31 GMT

My ex & I had a time share condo in Las Vegas but I never got to go because we separated before I could but knowing him he did not waste much money gambling that's for sure but if I had gone he would have had to reign me in!...I should have kept him because he was so level-headed about everything. The verses below remind me of some of the stories I've read of people who get big wins in the lottery & can't handle it & lose it really quick or someone kills them for it or... [ More ]

Comment #6

hearsetrax — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 12:28:34 GMT

its a sin or ought to be to spend more then the given minimal <br

Comment #5

mikeintexas — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 05:16:09 GMT

People who do extreme sports gamble with their lives. Why, just the other day i watched a video about climbing Mt. Everest and was horrified at how many people die ea. yr. I forget how many of a hundred die, but it's odds I wouldn't want to risk. My folks were Christians but loved to go to Vegas a few times/yr. I've always heard gambling isn't really fun unless you're risking more than you can afford to lose, but that doesn't sound enjoyable to me.... [ More ]

Comment #4

Coin Toss — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 04:40:23 GMT

When people told the editor of the Las Vegas Sun newspaper they didn't gamble he asked them if they had life insurance.

Comment #3

mikeintexas — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 02:49:28 GMT

When my grandmother was on her deathbed, she asked me to create a foundation in her name. This was long before the lottery came to Texas and I hadn't a clue as to how I was going to accomplish what I had promised her. I tried to write a couple of books, but...well, they just weren't very good. Then Texas started the lottery and I started playing when I could afford it and now we have HUGE jackpots with the two national lotteries. The amt. I'd fund her foundation goes up w/ ea. rollover... [ More ]

Comment #2

Vergie6 — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 02:32:25 GMT

Oh and you're welcome music

Comment #1

music* — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 02:19:45 GMT

Thank You Vergie6. Sometimes the Truth hurts. Enough for the Holy Spirit to convict a person of sin.

Original Blog Entry: What the Bible says about playing the lottery

Vergie6 — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 02:07:48 GMT

I was told today to look to God for winning the lottery so I said I do look to God every day but when it comes to gambling I think

God gives us a choice that we choose not him.

Didn't mean to get anyone upset by saying that but that's still how I feel I will still play the lottery believing that.

I'm not the only one who believes that way as I have discussed it with friends before but not on LP as I can remember....anyway I looked this up

thought I would share it with whoever would like to read it.

Question: What does the Bible say about playing the lottery?

Answer: The word gamble means to risk something of value on an outcome that depends on chance. Because the outcome of a lottery depends on chance and playing it involves risk, then, by definition, playing the lottery is gambling.

The Bible has no examples of a lottery, but it does contain instances of gambling: Samson s wager in Judges 14:12 and the soldiers gambling over Jesus garments in Mark 15:24. In neither case is gambling presented in a good light. The Bible also mentions the casting of lots for the purpose of decision making (Joshua 18:10; Nehemiah 10:34). And Proverbs 16:33 emphasizes the sovereignty of God: The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. But the biblical purpose of casting lots was not to test one s luck or to gain material wealth.

The main purpose of playing the lottery is to win money, and the Bible tells us what our attitude toward money should be. So often, riches get in the way of a man s spiritual benefit (Mark 4:19; 10:25). Jesus teaches, No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (Luke 16:13). First Timothy 6:10 is where we find the famous warning that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

Playing the lottery as a get-rich-quick scheme is statistically futile, and it focuses the lottery player on the temporary riches of this world (see Proverbs 23:5). The fact is, God wants people to earn their money honestly by working hard: The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). We ought to gain wealth through diligence, as a gift from the Lord: Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth (Proverbs 10:4).

Gamblers, including players of the lottery, typically covet money and the things that money can buy. God forbids covetousness: You shall not covet your neighbor s house. You shall not covet your neighbor s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor (Exodus 20:17; see also 1 Timothy 6:10). One of the world s lies is that money is the answer to life s problems. People are lured into playing the lottery with promises that their lives will improve if they can only hit the jackpot. If they can just get lucky with the numbers, their problems will disappear. Such hopes are empty (see Ecclesiastes 5:10 15).

So, we would do well to be cautious about playing the lottery. There are many better uses for the money spent on a ticket, and we must guard our hearts against covetousness and our lives against addictions to gaming. Buying a lottery ticket here and there may not be a sin, but greed is. Those playing the lottery must prayerfully examine their motives and, if they continue playing, do so responsibly and only in moderation.

Recommended Resource: Gambling: Don't Bet On It by Rex Rogers

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