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Gambling& The Lottery
#1 · June 10, 2004, 10:28 am
Posted by: henkf <henkf@...>
Gambling -short study
Money
1 Cor 16:1,2 - put God first with our money. Can we gamble
and put God first? Giving to God "as we have prospered".
In other words, in relation to our income.
Gambling is getting something for nothing.
Is gambling a responsible way to use our money?
Why do people gamble?
1. Thrill of uncertainty
2. Desire to obtain something for nothing.
Eph 4:28 - Let the person who stole steal no longer, but
rather let him work, working with the hands what is good,
so that he/she may have something to give the person who
has need. How's that for an attitude about money? "I'll
have more to GIVE instead of more to GET".
Rom 1:28-32 - Greed. Are we greedy? "And even as they
did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave
them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are
not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual
immorality, wickedness, covetousness (greed)...evil-minded-
ness (already thinking/planning on using the gambling
winnings on something else). Do you know anyone who runs
over to the church collection plate after winning at the
horse races or lottery to increase their giving? Or is
their attitude/plan to spend it on themselves?
Here are some attitudes I've heard:
"If I won 10 million dollars...
...I'd quit my job and live off the money.
...I'd buy a new house.
2 Thess 3:10,11 - "Those who don't work shouldn't eat"
1 Cor 15:33 - Don't be deceived: evil company corrupts
good habits".
I Thess 5:22 - Abstain from every form of evil.
Money
1 Cor 16:1,2 - put God first with our money. Can we gamble
and put God first? Giving to God "as we have prospered".
In other words, in relation to our income.
Gambling is getting something for nothing.
Is gambling a responsible way to use our money?
Why do people gamble?
1. Thrill of uncertainty
2. Desire to obtain something for nothing.
Eph 4:28 - Let the person who stole steal no longer, but
rather let him work, working with the hands what is good,
so that he/she may have something to give the person who
has need. How's that for an attitude about money? "I'll
have more to GIVE instead of more to GET".
Rom 1:28-32 - Greed. Are we greedy? "And even as they
did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave
them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are
not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual
immorality, wickedness, covetousness (greed)...evil-minded-
ness (already thinking/planning on using the gambling
winnings on something else). Do you know anyone who runs
over to the church collection plate after winning at the
horse races or lottery to increase their giving? Or is
their attitude/plan to spend it on themselves?
Here are some attitudes I've heard:
"If I won 10 million dollars...
...I'd quit my job and live off the money.
...I'd buy a new house.
2 Thess 3:10,11 - "Those who don't work shouldn't eat"
1 Cor 15:33 - Don't be deceived: evil company corrupts
good habits".
I Thess 5:22 - Abstain from every form of evil.
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
THE LOTTERY
"Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life
merry,and money is the answer to everything" (Eccl. 10:19).
And truly in our godless age nothing could be more idolized
than the items thus mentioned here. To eat, drink, and be
merry is the dogma of our day. It is expected of all that
they will conform to this twisted standard and
give unflinching obedience to the god of the "good life".
Of course everything has its price and that includes the
"good life". Every meal and every drink has its fee and
the greater the price the greater the satisfaction.
Therefore, if we are to maintain this high standard of
living we must have the finances available to relish in
such pleasures. Thus, money becomes the key to enjoyment;
money becomes the central focus of our ambitions; money
becomes "the answer to everything". And truly the
things that can be bought with money are seemingly
endless. Amusements, recreations, immoralities, and
countless other diversions can all be bought for a price,
and with enough money the price can never be too high. But
how can the simple man, the average Joe, come into a state
of affairs where he can truly enjoy these "great
blessings". Of course, if he attempted to gain these
things by hard work he will be at a major disadvantage
because of the time it will take him to amass enough wealth
to indulge himself in these creature comforts (and besides
by then he will by far too old to enjoy them).
There is one hope though. One chance among millions.
One blessed dream that could change the course of his life.
One great possibility that could direct him through the
doors of ease and comfort for the remainder of his days.
And it is so easy and economical that he can afford to
donate his time and earnings to it on a regular basis. He
may, if it so pleases our restless hero, spin the
proverbial wheel of chance monthly, weekly, and even daily.
What is that blessed hope of salvation that could lead to
the success and consummation of our hero's quest if only
the most splendid and esteemed mistress Lady Luck will be
merciful to our ambitious champion? Why, of course, it is
the Lottery.
merry,and money is the answer to everything" (Eccl. 10:19).
And truly in our godless age nothing could be more idolized
than the items thus mentioned here. To eat, drink, and be
merry is the dogma of our day. It is expected of all that
they will conform to this twisted standard and
give unflinching obedience to the god of the "good life".
Of course everything has its price and that includes the
"good life". Every meal and every drink has its fee and
the greater the price the greater the satisfaction.
Therefore, if we are to maintain this high standard of
living we must have the finances available to relish in
such pleasures. Thus, money becomes the key to enjoyment;
money becomes the central focus of our ambitions; money
becomes "the answer to everything". And truly the
things that can be bought with money are seemingly
endless. Amusements, recreations, immoralities, and
countless other diversions can all be bought for a price,
and with enough money the price can never be too high. But
how can the simple man, the average Joe, come into a state
of affairs where he can truly enjoy these "great
blessings". Of course, if he attempted to gain these
things by hard work he will be at a major disadvantage
because of the time it will take him to amass enough wealth
to indulge himself in these creature comforts (and besides
by then he will by far too old to enjoy them).
There is one hope though. One chance among millions.
One blessed dream that could change the course of his life.
One great possibility that could direct him through the
doors of ease and comfort for the remainder of his days.
And it is so easy and economical that he can afford to
donate his time and earnings to it on a regular basis. He
may, if it so pleases our restless hero, spin the
proverbial wheel of chance monthly, weekly, and even daily.
What is that blessed hope of salvation that could lead to
the success and consummation of our hero's quest if only
the most splendid and esteemed mistress Lady Luck will be
merciful to our ambitious champion? Why, of course, it is
the Lottery.
SING IT, KENNY
Granted, the media has us convinced that the lottery is
an acceptable thing, a reasonable thing, even a necessary
thing. Yet it is my contention that the lottery is nothing
more than a watered-down form of gambling. It is a leech
which slowly drains our God-given funds. It emphasizes
man's sinfulness in greed and discontent and should be
shunned by all that profess reliance upon the Lord and His
providence.
Why would someone desire to play the lottery? What is
their motivation? The goal of the gambler is quite clear:
To make as much money with as little effort as possible.
These two motivations: 1) To make much money, and 2) to
expend as little effort as possible in the attaining of it,
are contrary to all that the Christian should be in
name and attitude.
an acceptable thing, a reasonable thing, even a necessary
thing. Yet it is my contention that the lottery is nothing
more than a watered-down form of gambling. It is a leech
which slowly drains our God-given funds. It emphasizes
man's sinfulness in greed and discontent and should be
shunned by all that profess reliance upon the Lord and His
providence.
Why would someone desire to play the lottery? What is
their motivation? The goal of the gambler is quite clear:
To make as much money with as little effort as possible.
These two motivations: 1) To make much money, and 2) to
expend as little effort as possible in the attaining of it,
are contrary to all that the Christian should be in
name and attitude.
HOW DO YOU SPELL LOTTERY---G.R.E.E.D.
First, no matter how you rationalize it, the goal of
playing the lottery is to attain a mass of wealth. The goal
is GREED. There is no other way around it. Of course,
some who play would say much to the contrary. Their
response to the charge of greed as their motivator
would be, "We just want to be secure", or "I'm would just
like to take it easy for awhile", or (blasphemy of
blasphemies) "If I won, I sure could help the church out".
Dear friend, even the Pharisees who were lovers of money
themselves (Luke 16:14) had enough reverence when Judas
threw the betrayal money back at them not to use it for
sacred things but to instead buy a field with it. Do you
think then that good can come from evil? Do you honestly
think that God needs your blood money to accomplish his
purposes? Or are you still as yet not convinced that
gambling, even in the watered-down version of the lottery,
is a moral evil and offence unto the Holy God?
The Bible says that "in the last days men will be
lovers of self, lovers of money." (2 Tim. 3:2). Worldly
men are characterized by worldly passions such as self-love
and greed. Should these same qualities characterize the
Christian? Greed is displayed as one of the features of a
depraved mind (Rom 1:28-29) right in there with other sins
such as murder, deceitfulness, hating God, etc.. "Oh, but
it is such a little sin" you say in comparison to these
others. Then why, pray tell, does it have such "worthy"
bed-partners. Learn, O Christian, that all sin, great or
small, is a stench in the nostrils of a Holy and Majestic
God and is so putrid and horrifying to His senses that
punishment for just one of your so-called "small" sins
would be an everlasting torment in hell away from God and
all that is good with weeping and wailing and gnashing of
teeth time without end.
The Scriptures are clear: "Do not let immorality...or
greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints"
(Eph. 5:3) and "Consider the members of your earthly body
as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and
greed, which amounts to idolatry" (Col 3:5). Here again,
we see that Greed has such "worthy" partners; evil desires,
immorality and the like. Greed is not even to be heard of
among Christians and is idolatry (read the last part of Col
3:5 again if you still remain unconvinced).
"But I'm not greedy" you cry, "I just want a few good
things, some security, some time to myself, etc..". Your
whimpering will get you nowhere. What is greed but a
longing for riches and what does the Bible say about that:
"For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil,
and some BY LONGING FOR IT have wandered away from the
faith" (1 Tim 6:10). Have you been wandering away from the
providence of God my friend by longing for much riches
through the lottery? If so, the next verse has a vital
message you need to hear, understand and obey: "But
FLEE from these things, you man of God" (1 Tim. 6:11). O
Man of God who trusts in Lady Luck to provide for him,
don't try to reason out of it or rationalize this message
away. Obey the Scriptures, repent of your sin.
In a word; Flee!
playing the lottery is to attain a mass of wealth. The goal
is GREED. There is no other way around it. Of course,
some who play would say much to the contrary. Their
response to the charge of greed as their motivator
would be, "We just want to be secure", or "I'm would just
like to take it easy for awhile", or (blasphemy of
blasphemies) "If I won, I sure could help the church out".
Dear friend, even the Pharisees who were lovers of money
themselves (Luke 16:14) had enough reverence when Judas
threw the betrayal money back at them not to use it for
sacred things but to instead buy a field with it. Do you
think then that good can come from evil? Do you honestly
think that God needs your blood money to accomplish his
purposes? Or are you still as yet not convinced that
gambling, even in the watered-down version of the lottery,
is a moral evil and offence unto the Holy God?
The Bible says that "in the last days men will be
lovers of self, lovers of money." (2 Tim. 3:2). Worldly
men are characterized by worldly passions such as self-love
and greed. Should these same qualities characterize the
Christian? Greed is displayed as one of the features of a
depraved mind (Rom 1:28-29) right in there with other sins
such as murder, deceitfulness, hating God, etc.. "Oh, but
it is such a little sin" you say in comparison to these
others. Then why, pray tell, does it have such "worthy"
bed-partners. Learn, O Christian, that all sin, great or
small, is a stench in the nostrils of a Holy and Majestic
God and is so putrid and horrifying to His senses that
punishment for just one of your so-called "small" sins
would be an everlasting torment in hell away from God and
all that is good with weeping and wailing and gnashing of
teeth time without end.
The Scriptures are clear: "Do not let immorality...or
greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints"
(Eph. 5:3) and "Consider the members of your earthly body
as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and
greed, which amounts to idolatry" (Col 3:5). Here again,
we see that Greed has such "worthy" partners; evil desires,
immorality and the like. Greed is not even to be heard of
among Christians and is idolatry (read the last part of Col
3:5 again if you still remain unconvinced).
"But I'm not greedy" you cry, "I just want a few good
things, some security, some time to myself, etc..". Your
whimpering will get you nowhere. What is greed but a
longing for riches and what does the Bible say about that:
"For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil,
and some BY LONGING FOR IT have wandered away from the
faith" (1 Tim 6:10). Have you been wandering away from the
providence of God my friend by longing for much riches
through the lottery? If so, the next verse has a vital
message you need to hear, understand and obey: "But
FLEE from these things, you man of God" (1 Tim. 6:11). O
Man of God who trusts in Lady Luck to provide for him,
don't try to reason out of it or rationalize this message
away. Obey the Scriptures, repent of your sin.
In a word; Flee!
LABOR AND CONTENTMENT
Or are you not content with the lot that God has
graciously given you? Is there any good thing that you
have from God that you did not receive? Do you think you
deserve more? Are you of such noble character and moral
purity that you deserve ample compensation for all your
lusts and desires at your bidding? And would you now
attempt to stick your hand in the forbidden cookie jar to
gain more than God has given? O foolish and pitiful man.
It is God that gives you the strength to work. It is God
that provides you with the skills and knowledge to labor.
It is God who provides your every need by His great
providence. And it is God who has shown us the way in which
He would have us to increase monetarily, and that is by
honest, hard labor that benefits others. The Thessalonians
were told to "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life...
and work with your hands" (1 Thes. 4:11) and that "if
anyone will not work neither let him eat" (2 Thes. 3:10).
Though God at one time sustained His people by a constant
supply of manna, He now sustains His people chiefly by
granting them the strength and abilities to labor for the
common good and by that labor to increase financially.
Listen well to this verse and take it to heart: "He who
tills the land will have plenty of food, but he who follows
empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty...he who makes
haste to be rich will not go unpunished" (Prov. 28:19-20).
And what more is the lottery but then an "empty and vain
pursuit" in an attempt to "make haste to be rich". This
verse alone should be enough to stop any real Christian who
bows to the authority of Scripture to see the folly in
playing the Lottery and repent now of his sin before he
encounters God's discipline: "he who makes hast to be rich
will not go unpunished". What then should we do? We
should be "free from the love of money, being content with
what we have" (Heb. 13:5). It is lack of that contentment
that results in stressful and sinful strivings against
God's providence. Simply be content, you are getting far
less than what your sins deserve! Have the attitude of Agur
in the Proverbs who cried out to God "give me neither
poverty nor riches...lest I be full and deny Thee, and say,
"Who is the Lord?" or lest I be in want and steal, and
profane the name of my God" (Prov. 30:8-9). Desire a good
name for "a good name is to be more desired than great
riches" (Prov. 22:1). If great riches are your desire and
you must gamble to gain them then you become nothing
more than a gambler. Your good name of saint is gone and
your new names of risk-taker, chance-monger, and gambler
are fully deserved. Jesus said, "Beware, and be on
your guard against every form of greed" (Luk 12:15). I am
convinced that one of the manifestations of greed in its
most heinous form (for it seems so innocent) is that idea
promoted and performed by the Lottery.
graciously given you? Is there any good thing that you
have from God that you did not receive? Do you think you
deserve more? Are you of such noble character and moral
purity that you deserve ample compensation for all your
lusts and desires at your bidding? And would you now
attempt to stick your hand in the forbidden cookie jar to
gain more than God has given? O foolish and pitiful man.
It is God that gives you the strength to work. It is God
that provides you with the skills and knowledge to labor.
It is God who provides your every need by His great
providence. And it is God who has shown us the way in which
He would have us to increase monetarily, and that is by
honest, hard labor that benefits others. The Thessalonians
were told to "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life...
and work with your hands" (1 Thes. 4:11) and that "if
anyone will not work neither let him eat" (2 Thes. 3:10).
Though God at one time sustained His people by a constant
supply of manna, He now sustains His people chiefly by
granting them the strength and abilities to labor for the
common good and by that labor to increase financially.
Listen well to this verse and take it to heart: "He who
tills the land will have plenty of food, but he who follows
empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty...he who makes
haste to be rich will not go unpunished" (Prov. 28:19-20).
And what more is the lottery but then an "empty and vain
pursuit" in an attempt to "make haste to be rich". This
verse alone should be enough to stop any real Christian who
bows to the authority of Scripture to see the folly in
playing the Lottery and repent now of his sin before he
encounters God's discipline: "he who makes hast to be rich
will not go unpunished". What then should we do? We
should be "free from the love of money, being content with
what we have" (Heb. 13:5). It is lack of that contentment
that results in stressful and sinful strivings against
God's providence. Simply be content, you are getting far
less than what your sins deserve! Have the attitude of Agur
in the Proverbs who cried out to God "give me neither
poverty nor riches...lest I be full and deny Thee, and say,
"Who is the Lord?" or lest I be in want and steal, and
profane the name of my God" (Prov. 30:8-9). Desire a good
name for "a good name is to be more desired than great
riches" (Prov. 22:1). If great riches are your desire and
you must gamble to gain them then you become nothing
more than a gambler. Your good name of saint is gone and
your new names of risk-taker, chance-monger, and gambler
are fully deserved. Jesus said, "Beware, and be on
your guard against every form of greed" (Luk 12:15). I am
convinced that one of the manifestations of greed in its
most heinous form (for it seems so innocent) is that idea
promoted and performed by the Lottery.
CONCLUSION
Phil 4:19 reads, "but my God shall supply all your need
according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus". Do we
really believe this? Does this show in our actions? Does
God provide through our Lord Jesus Christ or through our
Lord Lady Luck? Keep in mind that Jesus Himself said that
it is impossible to serve God and mammon. Who do you
serve? Who do you trust to supply your need? Did not at
one time holy men of old pray "Give us this day our daily
bread" in humble reliance upon the Lord. You may keep your
harlot Lady Luck. I will neither receive from her hand nor
beg at her feet for her cup full of unbelief. My trust and
rest is in the Sovereign Lord and His providence in
supplying every good thing to His own. I can sing with
David that my portion and cup truly overflow in God's
graciousness. You may feast with your Lady and share
her cup of abominations if you like, but please don't say
you trust in God and His providence, your actions betray
you and likewise condemn you.
according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus". Do we
really believe this? Does this show in our actions? Does
God provide through our Lord Jesus Christ or through our
Lord Lady Luck? Keep in mind that Jesus Himself said that
it is impossible to serve God and mammon. Who do you
serve? Who do you trust to supply your need? Did not at
one time holy men of old pray "Give us this day our daily
bread" in humble reliance upon the Lord. You may keep your
harlot Lady Luck. I will neither receive from her hand nor
beg at her feet for her cup full of unbelief. My trust and
rest is in the Sovereign Lord and His providence in
supplying every good thing to His own. I can sing with
David that my portion and cup truly overflow in God's
graciousness. You may feast with your Lady and share
her cup of abominations if you like, but please don't say
you trust in God and His providence, your actions betray
you and likewise condemn you.
...
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