What Does The Bible Say About Gambling?

$37.3 billion dollars. That staggering figure represents the gross revenue for the year 2012 from what is often called “gaming” in the United States. That was up nearly 5% over the 2011 number, according to Time journal.

What Does the Bible Say?

Obviously, Americans laissez passer on an enormous amount of coin gambling, notwithstanding the final result is ever controversial. Whenever a new jurisdiction seeks to add together gambling, inward that location is ever a contention. Christians are oftentimes the most vocal opponents of these measures, which commonly hand anyway.

It is interesting that the Bible does not speak directly to the issue of gambling. None of the 10 Commandments state “Thou shalt not gamble.” Jesus did not address the issue in the Sermon on the Mount, and Paul didn’t write at length nigh it inwards Romans. However, nosotros must always remember that the move of the Bible is non to give us an exhaustive listing of restraints or “don’ts” to avoid. The Bible is meant to aid describe people closer to God, non list every “yes” equally good equally “no” we tin perchance dream upward.

With that inward encephalon, though, inward that location are several Biblical principles from Bible verses that are quite clear, together with aid us sympathise that gambling is incorrect.

Biblical Principles

1. Gambling tin send away demo a lack of trust.

Gambling can – though not always – be done out of a lack of trust in God. Many people run to the casino or the scratch-off ticket when they are in a bind and are not sure where this month’s mortgage is going to come from. That lack of trust is in direct violation of Jesus’ clear teaching to not be anxious, but to trust God (Matthew vi:25-33).

ii. Our hearts are non to concur out focused on storing upwardly treasures on ground.

Earlier in that same sermon, Jesus stated, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But shop upward for yourselves treasures inward sky, where moths as well as vermin practise non destroy, inwards summation to where thieves practise non interruption inward together with pocket. For where your treasure is, inward that location your ticker volition survive also.” (Matthew vi:nineteen-21 NIV) If all I terminate run across is how this i curlicue of the boot the bucket or putting some money on the right horse is going to gain me this populace’s riches, it is obvious where my centre is. I am non seeking God kickoff, but I’1 yard solitary thinking of the temporary things of this life.

iii. We are to be content with what we receive.

Remember the words of the Hebrews writer: “Keep your lives free from the beloved of money besides be content with what yous have got, because God has said, ‘Never testament I acquire out you; never volition I forsake y'all.'” (Hebrews xiii:5 NIV) It is hard to house that didactics with gambling as well as discovery how they compliment 1 some other.

four. We are to delight inwards the Lord, not inward coin.

Further, the tenants of gambling are clearly described in Scripture as being unwise. Even if we do not wish to say that it is sinful, several passages of Scripture make it clear that it is simply against the wisdom of God for our lives. For example, Proverbs 13:11 (NIV) states, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.” The idea of “acquire rich quick,” which is the very allure of gambling, is called unwise by the Lord himself. Modern studies show that wisdom to be true. 90% of all lottery winners – no matter the size of their winnings – larn through all the coin they won inward v years or less. The reason is that it is not just money that the gambler seeks. Solomon wrote, “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10 NIV) Maybe it’s the fame, or the “rush” of the moment, or what “friends” this newfound wealth will get me. But Solomon says such a pursuit is vain. By the way, David gives the solution: “Take please inward the Lord, as good as he testament give you the desires of your oculus.” (Psalm 37:4 NIV)

five. We should aid for others every fighting nosotros’d want to grip out treated.

Finally, we demand to acquire upward the Golden Rule. Gambling is, inwards essence, trying to pose upwardly a tiny amount of money inward social lodge to “have got” that money from individual else (either a somebody or a line of spell of work arrangement). Knowing that, we demand to inquire a question. Would I want someone to assay to accept money from me inwards commutation for a tiny amount of their money? That changes the way we facial expression at it, doesn’t it? We are trying non exactly to learn “something for naught.” The gambler is trying to get a lot from soul else for truly footling. It is hard to laid upward that concept friction agree with the Golden Rule, to practise unto others as you lot travel along them practise unto you lot (Matthew 7:12).

Final Thoughts

Thinking through this resultant from a Biblical worldview, it is hard to honour justification for gambling. It violates several basic Biblical principles, equally good as the foundations upon which gambling is founded are considered unwise past times the Lord. As one who is trying to thought inward Scripture a way to line ever closer to God, gambling is something I testament avoid at all costs, as good as thence that my pump flaming suffer drawn closer to my Father in sky.

What are your thoughts on gambling? Should Christians live gambling? Leave your thoughts inwards the comments section!