What does scripture say about gambling

Proverbs - Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. You cannot serve God and money. Ecclesiastes - He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

In 2 Thessalonians ,10, Paul wrote, "For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: If a man will not work, he shall not eat. Scripture specifically approves of at least three ways to obtain goods or money.

Working to earn money, 2 obtaining goods through exchange or barter, 3 and receiving lifetime gifts or inheritance at death 4 are all expressly acceptable ways to increase your wealth or possessions. Conversely, the Scriptures condemn obtaining anything by cheating, stealing or lying, and further condemns the desire of obtaining what belongs to others. Beyond the Scriptural issues, Anderson and others reject gambling as bad social and governmental policy as well.

Societal ills such as gambling addictions, excessive debt, neglected families are cited as prime examples of why, in addition to Biblical direction, gambling should be considered immoral. Ronald A. Reno, writing for Focus on the Family, considers gambling to be an abdication of Biblical instructions to love your neighbor and take care of the poor. Gambling cannot exist without winners and losers and cultivates a desire to place yourself first at the expense of your neighbors. Scriptures teach us to take care of the poor rather than to support activities such as gambling which in order to succeed must, on average, make all participants poorer in the long run.

Nothing is so demoralizing or intoxicating, particularly to the young, as the acquisition of money or property without labor. 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. Cash is a necessity and the quickest, easiest way to get extra money is to win it. If you can gamble without becoming addicted , it might not be a sin for you. Some people can pay out a provident amount, perhaps weekly or yearly, and stop at that. It takes great wisdom to discern whether or not to play at a potentially addictive behavior.

If you can gamble without encouraging a brother or sister in Christ to participate in gambling against their conscience or to become addicted , then you might be free to gamble. A Final Word Before God, you have the final word on whether or not you will gamble. I have decided that, for me, the risk is not worth the potential harm. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. When Dr. Warren teaches pastoral ministries he draws from decades of personal experience.

Skip to content. About the Contributors Timothy S. Warren When Dr. Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person. As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:.

A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. But you who forsake the Lord , who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter, because, when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my eyes and chose what I did not delight in.

Like the partridge that gathers a brood that she did not hatch, so is he who gets riches but not by justice; in the midst of his days they will leave him, and at his end he will be a fool. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.

And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous that is, an idolater , has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live. But whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster. The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord. And there Joshua apportioned the land to the people of Israel, to each his portion. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven. You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Your rich men are full of violence; your inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous. They cast their silver into the streets, and their gold is like an unclean thing. Their silver and gold are not able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord. They cannot satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs with it.