GAMBLING: The Christian
Gambling and lotteries are an established aspect of modern British culture. In previous blogs we have considered the dangers and the types of gambling, and this article is intended to help Christians to guard not only themselves but the hearts and minds of the children who they are seeking to teach and influence in godly living.
‘Playing the pools’ or ‘betting on the Derby’ has mushroomed into a multi-billion pound industry that is evident throughout society, from the National Lottery kiosk in the supermarket to the strips of favorite football clubs. Young people may find these comments helpful as parents look to share their convictions about the undesirability of games of chance. Gambling – whether by or wagers, or lotteries, or scratchcards – involves chance. The chance to get more money and more possessions, and the chance to lose what one can ill afford.
The Bible does not say that money itself is the root of all evil, but The love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). It is a very subtle affection, easily concealed in the heart of a man. The desire for money is dangerous, therefore we must be very careful not to become involved in activities that will stir it up and spread the root of evil within us. Such can lead to the spirit of covetousness and allow greed to rise up within us. The love of the Christian isn’t of the world, neither the things that are in the world. (1 John 2:15)
The first National Lottery in Great Britain was held in the days of Queen Elizabeth I to raise funds for major projects such as the building of the Bristol ports. They were stopped in 1621 because of the “adverse effect they were having on the Nation”. (oh, the wisdom of an earlier age!) They were restarted in 1750 on an annual basis. Several major buildings in London were built from funds raised in this way. Then again, in 1826, all public lotteries and raffles were banned by an act of Parliament and the reason was the ill effect lottery was having upon the Nation, especially in respect of the poor. The year 1956 saw the beginning of a reversal of this historical perspective, with the Gambling and Lottery Bill lifting the ban and granting the industry an opportunistic liberty that continues apace and shows few signs of abating.
Where money is involved the lessons of history are readily overlooked. Our Lord made specific warning, Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. (Luke 12:15)
The way in which we must live to obtain our daily needs is found in the Bible. Because Adam sinned against God’s commandments, God cursed the ground for Adam’s sake and said … in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life … in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. (Genesis 3:17-19). The sinful nature of Adam is inherent in all of us and we likewise are sinners, under the same curse, and must labour to provide for our daily needs. We deserve only the wrath of God, yet in spite of the sin and wickedness of man, God made a merciful covenant in the days of Noah. The rainbow in the cloud was the token of His covenant that whilst the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. (Genesis 8:22).
Gambling can be seen as a way to avoid these consequences, or to subvert what God has ordained. The Christian seeks honest gain, and is aware that the money in play in gambling must come from somewhere. From someone’s wages, from someone’s savings, from an innocent 3rd party. For the one who ‘wins’ there are thousands who lose, and frustrated gamblers will always be tempted to spend more money and ‘try harder’ in the hope of making up their losses. What a desperate situation can result, and there are many that have gone along that road! The family stresses increase, the children suffer – and the pressure can become so great that some take their own lives. The word of God is not vain, The love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10).
Even when money has been won through gambling and lotteries there are innumerable instances where trouble has come upon the ‘winners’. Unhealthy lifestyle changes lead to self-destructive behaviours, demands for a share from family and friends increase, family relationships are strained and often result in dissolution. Gambling and lotteries are never the way to true happiness but so often are the way to the very opposite.
The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (‘ERLC’) in its ‘Biblical Case against Gambling’ points out that mainstream Christian belief has always viewed gambling as incompatible with the Bible’s teaching, and offers a number of reasons:
(1) Gambling directly appeals to covetousness and greed. The desire to get something for nothing is really another name for covetousness, and is not of the Christian spirit, Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought (2 Thessalonians 3:8).
(2) Gambling directly depends on other people incurring financial loss. God calls us to love thy neighbor as thyself (Mark 12:31), but the gambler wants to benefit at his neighbor’s expense. Simply put, gambling is a predatory practice — exploiting the many for the benefit of the few.
(3) Gambling denies the biblical work ethic which links honest labour with reward – Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in His ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. (Psalms 128:1-2).
(4) Gambling can be addictive, as the existence of organizations such as Gamblers’ Anonymous makes plain, often leading to desperation and tragic outcomes.
(5) Gambling has been connected to many social ills, including substance abuse, crime, loss of homes and jobs, the breakdown of families, and mental health crises.
(6) Gambling shows no concern for God’s glory. Christians should strive to do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31), and this must include the use of their money to accomplish good for the kingdom. In Matthew 6 the Lord calls for Christians to lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20), warning that ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:20)
(7) Gambling is not an act of faith but a game of chance. Paul wrote, Everything that is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23). The Christian life is to be lived in dependence on God to meet all needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
(8) Gambling moves the focus from the spiritual to the carnal, from the eternal to the temporal, in a way that the heart is easily misled – For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:21)
Conclusion
As we work we should remember in sorrow that it is because of our sin, yet be thankful for God’s provision through the covenant. For Scripture says … that every man should each and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. (Ecclesiastes 3:13).
All things are under the control of God and come to pass as He commands. If we are in need and cannot provide for ourselves then we are to pray to the Lord God and ask of Him. Our Lord taught us to pray daily for our bread, and to enter into games of chance for money to meet our needs, like gambling and lotteries, is ignoring God, and that is a great sin – Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s. (Luke 20:25).
As Christians, we are required to be a steward of all we have because it belongs to God. We are no freer to gamble with God’s money than we are with anyone else’s.
Help comes from God to strengthen those who pray to Him when tempted to sin. Pray to be given strength and courage to keep you from faithlessly entering into gambling and lotteries.
Preparation of this blog has been helped by https://erlc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Gamblinglnsert_Color_FINAL_072821.pdf
