Gambling's Sinful Nature: Why It's Wrong To Wager

Gambling is a highly addictive activity that can be financially ruinous. Although the Bible does not explicitly mention gambling, it does refer to casting lots, a chance-based way of making decisions. The Bible warns against coveting others' possessions, and gambling is driven by greed and the desire to get rich quick. It also preys on the poor and vulnerable, and can lead to an unhealthy competitive spirit. Christians are urged to avoid temptation and environments characterised by activities such as prostitution, drunkenness, and drug abuse, which are often associated with gambling establishments.

Gambling is driven by greed, which is a sin

The Bible is clear that greed is a sin, with 1 Timothy 6:9-10 stating: "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." Closely related to greed is covetousness, which is prohibited by the Tenth Commandment (Exodus 20:17). Gambling is all about obtaining money without providing anything of value in return.

Gambling undermines the work ethic that is encouraged in the Bible. Christians are exhorted to work hard and earn a living (2 Thessalonians 3:10; Proverbs 14:23) rather than seeking something for nothing. Gambling goes against this principle by promising the chance of financial gain without any productive labour.

Gambling also preys on the desperation of the poor. Studies have shown that those with the lowest incomes spend the most on lottery tickets, and high school dropouts spend four times as much as college graduates. This is contrary to the biblical ethic, which exhorts believers to look out for the poor and disadvantaged (Proverbs 14:21, 14:31, 22:16; Isaiah 3:14-15; Amos 5:11-12; Zechariah 7:10a).

Furthermore, gambling can lead to destructive behaviours and addictions. It can become a dangerous compulsion, with people continuing to gamble even when it has destructive consequences for their lives. The Bible warns against such behaviours, encouraging believers to flee from temptation and avoid environments that promote destructive activities (1 Corinthians 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Thessalonians 5:22).

Gambling is driven by the desire for financial gain, which can lead people to exploit and take advantage of others. This is contrary to the biblical principle of loving your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:31). Gambling is predicated on the losses, pain, and suffering of others. For one person to win, others must lose, and these losers are often the gambler's closest loved ones.

In conclusion, while the Bible does not explicitly mention gambling, it does warn against the love of money and greed, which are fundamental aspects of gambling. Therefore, it can be argued that gambling is driven by greed, which is a sin.

It can arouse a destructive love of money

Gambling is driven by greed, which is condemned in the Bible. The Bible warns against the love of money and coveting other people's possessions.

Gambling, even for small amounts, can arouse a destructive love of money. The desire for financial gain can lead to addictive behaviours and destructive consequences. It can also lead to an unhealthy competitive spirit, which is also disapproved of in the Bible.

The Bible encourages hard work and earning money through honest labour, rather than seeking quick and easy financial gain through gambling. The pursuit of financial gain through gambling can lead to dissatisfaction and a lack of trust in God's provision.

Gambling can also have negative impacts on families and loved ones, increasing the risk of divorce, bankruptcy, child abuse, domestic violence, crime, and suicide. It can also exploit and prey upon the desperation of the poor, undermining the work ethic and promoting an immoral, predatory, and exploitative industry.

Therefore, while the Bible does not explicitly mention gambling, the pursuit of financial gain through gambling can lead to a destructive love of money, with far-reaching negative consequences.

It is based on superstition or luck, which is a form of idolatry

Gambling is a sin because it is based on superstition or luck, which is a form of idolatry. While the Bible does not explicitly mention gambling, it does refer to casting lots, a chance-based way of making decisions. The Bible also warns against coveting other people's possessions and the destructive love of money, which gambling can arouse.

Gambling is driven by superstition and luck, which are forms of idolatry. Idolatry is putting anything before God, and this includes superstition and luck. Superstition is believing that certain objects or actions can bring good or bad luck, which is putting your faith in something other than God. Luck is the belief that good or bad fortune happens by chance, rather than by God's will. Both superstition and luck are forms of idolatry because they put the outcome of events into the power of something other than God.

Gambling is based on superstition because gamblers often rely on lucky charms, rituals, or other superstitious behaviours to influence the outcome of their bets. They may believe that certain objects, numbers, or actions can bring them good luck and increase their chances of winning. This is a form of idolatry because it puts the power to influence the outcome of the game into the hands of something other than God. Luck is also a form of idolatry because it takes the outcome of the game out of God's hands and attributes it to chance.

The Bible warns against idolatry in many places, including Exodus 20:3-5, where it is listed as one of the Ten Commandments:

> "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them."

Idolatry is also mentioned in Isaiah 44:9-20, where the prophet Isaiah ridicules the idea of idols as powerless objects that cannot save or deliver people. In 1 Corinthians 10:14, the apostle Paul writes, "Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry", showing that idolatry is something that Christians should avoid.

Gambling is also based on luck, which is the hope of obtaining a favourable outcome by chance rather than through one's own skill or effort. This is a form of idolatry because it puts the outcome of events into the hands of chance rather than God. Luck is often seen as a random force that can be influenced by superstitious behaviours, but from a Christian perspective, it is God who ultimately determines the outcome of events.

By putting their faith in luck or superstition, gamblers are engaging in a form of idolatry that takes away from God's power and sovereignty. Instead of trusting in God's provision and sovereignty, they are putting their faith in random chance or superstitious objects and rituals. This is incompatible with Christian worship, which requires putting God first and trusting in His provision and sovereignty.

It can arouse an unhealthy competitive spirit

Gambling can arouse an unhealthy competitive spirit, which is disapproved of in the Bible. This is one of the reasons why some people consider gambling to be a sin.

The Bible does not explicitly mention gambling, but it does emphasise the importance of loving your neighbour (Mark 12:31) and avoiding greed and covetousness (Exodus 20:17; 1 Timothy 6:9-10). Gambling is often driven by greed and the desire to get rich quickly, which can lead to destructive behaviours such as addiction and financial ruin. It can also undermine the work ethic that is valued in the Bible, as it promises something for nothing.

Additionally, gambling can create an unhealthy competitive spirit, as it pits people against each other in a zero-sum game. For one person to win, another must lose, and this dynamic can foster an unhealthy and destructive attitude towards others. This is especially true when the gambler's loved ones are affected by their losses, which can lead to negative outcomes such as divorce, bankruptcy, and domestic violence.

The competitive nature of gambling can also lead to a lack of trust and dissatisfaction with God's provision. Instead of relying on God as their sole provider, gamblers may put their trust in chance and their own skill at games of luck. This can lead to a breakdown in the relationship with God and a sense of spiritual destruction.

Furthermore, the competitive nature of gambling can lead to other vices, such as prostitution, drunkenness, and drug abuse, as these activities are often associated with gambling establishments. Christians are urged to flee from temptation and avoid environments that promote these types of activities (1 Corinthians 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Thessalonians 5:22).

In conclusion, while the Bible does not specifically address gambling, it does provide principles that guide Christians towards wisdom and humility. The competitive spirit aroused by gambling can lead to unhealthy and destructive behaviours that are contrary to the teachings of the Bible.

It is poor stewardship of one's resources

Gambling is a poor use of one's resources because it is a waste of money. While the Bible does not explicitly mention gambling, it does mention events of "luck" or "chance". For example, casting lots was God's prescribed method of choosing between the sacrificial goat and the scapegoat (Leviticus 16:8). Joshua cast lots to determine the allotment of land to the various tribes, and the results were accepted as God's will (Joshua 18:10).

Gambling, by nature, takes advantage of the misfortune of others. In order for one person to win, someone else—usually multiple others—must lose. For a Christian to risk money in the off chance that he will gain even more is foolish. But to actively seek financial benefit from someone else’s loss is more than foolish; it is unethical.

Gambling is also a waste of money. By cutting wasteful spending, one can save money for future needs or give more to the Lord’s work. Gambling only adds to the waste.

Gambling undermines the work ethic that is part of God’s design for mankind. Time and time again the Bible tells us to supply our own needs and those of our families by engaging in productive labor (Proverbs 31, 2 Thessalonians 3:10, 1 Timothy 5:8). Gambling works against this by promising something for nothing.

Gambling is always an unwise investment with an almost-certain negative return. It propagates an immoral, predatory and exploitative industry. Casinos, for example, are perfectly rigged for taking money in large sums and giving nothing in return but momentary thrills and empty pleasures.

The Bible warns us against the compulsion to strike it rich. As 1 Timothy 6:9-10 says, “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

In summary, gambling is a poor use of one's resources because it wastes money, takes advantage of the misfortune of others, undermines the work ethic, is an unwise investment, and propagates an immoral industry.

Frequently asked questions