The flesh is the old life, the natural life inherited from Adam, with its apparent resources of personality, of ancestry, of commitment, of dedication, and so forth. You can do all kinds of religious things in the flesh. The flesh can preach a sermon. The flesh can sing in the choir. The flesh can act as an usher. The flesh can lead people to Christ. Did you know that? The flesh can go out and be very zealous in its witnessing and amass a terribly impressive list of people won to Christ, scalps to hang on a belt. The flesh can do these things but it is absolutely nauseating in the eyes of God. It is merely religious activity. There is nothing wrong with what is being done, but what is terribly wrong is the power being relied upon to do it (Ray Stedman).
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The Lottery

The Lottery

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.

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.

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, ect. “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, ect.”. Your wimperings 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.

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.