Why is gambling unbiblical

In one case, a glass eye, in another case, gold teeth pulled out with pliers and hocked for money with which to gamble.

Now that is addiction! Perhaps one of the most obvious problems with gambling is poor stewardship. In Matthew 25 we read the parable of the talents. We often use that parable to teach that we ought to use our talents in service to God, and that is not a misuse. But the word talent in this passage refers to a unit of money, just like we might use the term dollar.

Some people think this is specifically a parable dealing with the stewardship of our money. Whether that is the specific point or not, it certainly has application. The point of that parable is that God expects us to be good stewards of the money or whatever blessings we possess.

The man with one talent was not a good steward. How does gambling relate to stewardship? The odds of winning the lottery depend on where one plays. The odds can vary from 18 million to 1 all the way to million to 1.

There is not a good chance either way. The odds of being struck by lightning are 2. On the high side, a person is 45 times more likely to die from a lightning strike than to win the lottery. They are times more likely to die from flesh-eating bacteria than to win the lottery.

The chances of an individual playing golf with three friends and two of them getting a hole-in-one in the same hole are better than winning the lottery. A person is 1, times more likely to die from a snake bite or bee sting than to win the lottery. If you drive 10 miles to purchase a lottery ticket, you are 20 times more likely to be killed in a car accident along the way than to win the jackpot.

Two of the biggest lottery problems are Powerball and Mega Millions. For Powerball, the odds of winning the jackpot with any given ticket are 1 in ,, For Mega Millions, the odds are 1 in ,, The odds of winning either of these are essentially zero. What if your financial manager was sinking a certain portion of your retirement funds into a fund that had a 1 in million—a virtual zero chance!

How long would it take for you to fire him? The lottery is sinful because the Lord holds us accountable for our stewardship. Christians need to get a grip on this one. Even worldly people view gambling as a vice. There is a reason Las Vegas is called Sin City, and gambling is a big part of it. A Christian who plays the lottery is devastating his influence. However, money changers might have simply been describing people who performed currency exchanges for a fee — and Jesus was taking issue with the fact that the temple was being used as a centre for business.

The Bible does not explicitly come out and say that gambling is a sin, or even that it is immoral. Here are 3 popular arguments to wonder is sports betting a sin followed with my rebuttal to each in italics :.

Casinos are associated with free-flowing booze, old ladies pumping quarter after quarter into the slot machine rather than spending time with their loved ones, and prostitutes lurking in the shadows.

Gambling can lead to other temptations, but so can a lot of other things in the world that we engage in. You can purchase lottery products at your local convenience or grocery store, or you can place any bet on sports that you want from the comfort of your own home using an online sportsbook. These passages might condemn the idea of playing the lottery in hopes of a life-changing multi-million-dollar win. The majority of bettors and gamblers also know that the odds are ultimately against them.

Respectable people engaging in these chance enterprises, and easing their consciences with the reflection that the money is to go to a good object, it is not strange that the youth of the state should so often fall into the habits which the excitement of games of hazard is almost certain to engender.

Languages Study in More Languages. What does the Bible say about gambling? Let's look at what the Bible says about gambling and the scripture texts that address the principles involved. Quotes about gambling in the Bible?

The 10th Commandment Commandment number ten found in Exodus talks about coveting which is the root of many of our problems. The Bible, Gambling and Fundraisers As you know, some churches use bingo and lotteries as a means of raising money for charitable purposes. Is Gambling a Sin? The Effect of Gambling Another interesting bit of information: Governor Washburn of Wisconsin in his annual message of January 9, , declared, "Some law seems to be required to break up the schools where gamblers are made.

Pray this is the help you are seeking. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter. God Help Me: Find help in every time of need. Most often when people gamble it is because they become addicted to the love of money. A simple game can become a sin when it takes over our minds and hearts and leads us down a road of never being satisfied. Study the following Bible verses about gambling and see why God encourages us to stay away from it.

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