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Gambling is a Sin
I've heard more than one person assert that "the Bible does not condemn
gambling." While it is true that there is no Bible statement which says,
"Thou shalt not gamble" it is entirely UNTRUE that the Bible is silent
on the subject. Gambling is shown to be sinful by the principles of
truth and righteousness found in the Scriptures. The Bible condemns
gambling the same way it condemns racketeering, drug abuse, and
pornography. None of these things is specifically mentioned in
Scripture, but they can all be shown to be sinful by the straightforward
application of Bible principles.
GAMBLING IS SINFUL FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
1) It is an exercise in covetousness. People gamble because of a lust
for money possessed by others. In Hebrews 13:5 God's book says,
"Let
your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you
have." If gamblers are "content with" what they have, why are they
gambling? They are looking for the big payoff! They are willing to risk
what they've got out of a desire to get rich quick. "But those who
desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many
foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some
have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves
through with many sorrows" (1 Timothy 6:9-10). Jesus said, "Take heed
and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the
abundance of the things he possesses" (Luke 12:15).
2) Gambling is poor stewardship. All that we have has been given to us
by God and is to be used to glorify Him. The apostle Peter admonishes us
to be "good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10).
Gambling institutions such as casinos, horse tracks, government
lotteries and charity raffles design their games in such a way as to
guarantee that players will lose much more money overall than they ever
win. The odds of hitting the jackpot in a typical state lottery are
about one in 12 million. Any investment firm that took such chances with
its clients' money would soon be out of business and probably facing
criminal charges. Surely the Christian's duty to be a "faithful" steward
is greater than that of some Wall Street investment firm (1 Corinthians
4:2). How can Christians consider themselves faithful stewards of the
finances God has entrusted to their care and gamble them away?
3) Playing the Lottery promotes addiction. Addiction is sinful because
it places another master on the throne of a person's heart. That throne
should be occupied by the Lord alone. "No man can serve two masters"
(Matthew 6:24a). A significant percentage of people (especially young
people) who gamble will become addicted to it. It will control their
lives.
4) Playing the Lottery is worldliness. Gambling is worldly in its origin
and nature. In fact, one would be hard pressed to think of an activity
that more people would identify as being worldly. When Hollywood wants
to depict a character in a film as a man of the world, what activities
do they typically have the character engage in? Three things immediately
come to mind: drinking, smoking and gambling. In 1 John 2:15 the apostle
John commands us, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If
anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
Gambling is definitely a sin. "Whoever abides in Him does not sin."
(1
John 3:6).
-- By Steve Klein
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