Quote: Originally posted by helpmewin on Dec 21, 2012
Question: "Is gambling a sin? What does the Bible say about
gambling?"
Answer: The Bible does not specifically condemn
gambling, betting, or the lottery. The Bible does warn us, however, to stay away
from the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10; Hebrews 13:5). Scripture also encourages us to stay away
from attempts to “get rich quick” (Proverbs 13:11; 23:5; Ecclesiastes 5:10).
Gambling most definitely is focused on the love of money and undeniably tempts
people with the promise of quick and easy riches.
What is wrong with
gambling? Gambling is a difficult issue because if it is done in moderation and
only on occasion, it is a waste of money, but it is not necessarily evil. People
waste money on all sorts of activities. Gambling is no more or less of a waste
of money than seeing a movie (in many cases), eating an unnecessarily expensive
meal, or purchasing a worthless item. At the same time, the fact that money is
wasted on other things does not justify gambling. Money should not be wasted.
Excess money should be saved for future needs or given to the Lord's work, not
gambled away.
While the Bible does not explicitly mention gambling, it
does mention events of “luck” or “chance.” As an example, casting lots is used
in Leviticus to choose between the sacrificial goat and the scapegoat. Joshua
cast lots to determine the allotment of land to the various tribes. Nehemiah
cast lots to determine who would live inside the walls of Jerusalem. The
apostles cast lots to determine the replacement for Judas. Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast in the lap, but its
every decision is from the Lord.”
What would the Bible say about casinos
and lotteries? Casinos use all sorts of marketing schemes to entice gamblers to
risk as much money as possible. They often offer inexpensive or even free
alcohol, which encourages drunkenness, and thereby a decreased ability to make
wise decisions. Everything in a casino is perfectly rigged for taking money in
large sums and giving nothing in return, except for fleeting and empty
pleasures. Lotteries attempt to portray themselves as a way to fund education
and/or social programs. However, studies show that lottery participants are
usually those who can least afford to be spending money on lottery tickets. The
allure of “getting rich quick” is too great a temptation to resist for those who
are desperate. The chances of winning are infinitesimal, which results in many
peoples’ lives being ruined.
Can lotto/lottery proceeds please God? Many
people claim to be playing the lottery or gambling so that they can give the
money to the church or to some other good cause. While this may be a good
motive, reality is that few use gambling winnings for godly purposes. Studies
show that the vast majority of lottery winners are in an even worse financial
situation a few years after winning a jackpot than they were before. Few, if
any, truly give the money to a good cause. Further, God does not need our money
to fund His mission in the world. Proverbs 13:11 says, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but
he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” God is sovereign and will
provide for the needs of the church through honest means. Would God be honored
by receiving donated drug money or money stolen in a bank robbery? Of course
not. Neither does God need or want money that was “stolen” from the poor in the
temptation for riches.
First Timothy 6:10
tells us, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people,
eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many
griefs.” Hebrews 13:5 declares,
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have,
because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Matthew 6:24 proclaims, “No
one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he
will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve both God and Money.”