SINS OF SOCIETY
Is it ok for Christians to
Gamble?
GAMBLING IN OUR SOCIETY
 48 states permit or sponsor legalized
gambling in one form or another
 In 2013, Americans spent $119
BILLION dollars gambling (theweek.com,
February 5, 2014)
 2015 lottery sales in the U.S were
73.9 Billion (http://www.naspl.org/faq, North American
Association of State and Provincial Lotteries)
GAMBLING IN OUR SOCIETY
 An industry built upon sin!
 Associated with vices –drinking,
sexualization, worldliness, etc.
 Crime often found associated with it
 It can be an addictive behavior
 Personal and psychological
problems
THE CHRISTIAN & GAMBLING
 The Bible does not say, “You
shall not gamble”
 But, as with many actions, we
need to weigh the principles of
scripture and determine if it is
something to be advocated or
avoided (Heb. 5:14)
What is gambling?
 Gambling – engaging in a
game of chance with stakes
 Compulsive gambling – is a
disorder with the inability to
resist the impulse to gamble.
What is gambling?
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Gambling is NOT:
Simple risk
Investing
Paying a fee to enter a contest
Drawing straws to see who goes first,
etc. (unless stakes involved)
 Buying insurance
 Games with dice and cards
What is gambling?
 Gambling has 3 criteria:
 Chance – a device that
randomly determines a result
 Consideration – aka, a wager.
Stakes required to participate
 A prize – winners and loosers
What is gambling?
 Examples in the Bible:
 John 19:23-24, soldiers
gambled for the tunic of Jesus.
 Judges 14:12, Samson
poses a riddle with stakes
Gambling & Bible Principles
 No a legitimate Biblical means of
earning
 Work, 1 Timothy 5:18,
Ephesians 4:28,
1 Thessalonians 4:11
 Barter or exchange –
Matthew 13:45, 46
 Gifts – Ephesians 4:28
Gambling & Bible Principles
 Poor stewardship
 We are stewards, 1 Peter 4:10-11,
1 Corinthians 4:2
 Gambling can lead to neglect and
abuse of family, debt, waste of
resources, etc.
 The success of the industry is based
upon your willingness to spend your
money on it.
Gambling & Bible Principles
 Poor stewardship
 What about recreational
(responsible) gambling?
There is NO virtue in it as a hobby.
If it is just a hobby, why not play the
game without the stakes?
There are other principles that
conflict with it!
Gambling & Bible Principles
 Works of the flesh
 Covetousness – a strong desire to
acquire more and more material
possessions, especially what others
have or MORE than them!
BDAG, the state of desiring to have
more than one’s due, greediness,
insatiableness…”
Colossians 3:5, Hebrews 13:5
Gambling & Bible Principles
 Works of the flesh
 Greed – the selfish pursuit of
gain. A desire to have more for
yourself and less for others.
1 Timothy 6:9-10, 17-18,
cf. Eph. 4:28
 Question: Is gambling “uncertain
riches”?
Gambling & Bible Principles
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The “golden rule”
Matthew 7:12
Philippians 2:3-4
The premise of gambling is to
put up stakes with the hopes that
YOU win while the OTHER
parties lose
Gambling & Bible Principles
 The “golden rule”
 Gambling has done great harm
to society – teens with problems,
crime – from murder to theft,
drugs and prostitution, family
problems, debt, increased
likelihood of suicide, etc.
Gambling & Bible Principles
 The “golden rule”
 “But these problems don’t affect
me.” If you win, HOW much of your
winnings ARE a result of
irresponsible and sinful behavior?
Are you partaking in the sins of
others?
Romans 13:8-10
Ephesians 5:5-7
Gambling & Bible Principles
 It can become an addictive
behavior
 We need to be cautious of anything
that can be addictive.
 We are to exercise self-control and
soberness, both of which are
forfeited with addictions.
 1 Corinthians 6:12
Gambling & Bible Principles
 It affects your influence on
others
 1 Corinthians 15:33, evil
company corrupts good habits
 Is gambling letting our light shine
to glorify God?
Matthew 5:13-16
Gambling & Bible Principles
 It affects your influence on others
 Your influence could negatively affect
the gospel and others, cf. Galatians
2:13-14
 We must consider others in what we do
1 Corinthians 8:12-13,
Romans 14:15
Matthew 18:6-7
Gambling & Bible Principles
 At best it is questionable
behavior
 Do you have any doubt?
Romans 14:22-23
 1 Thessalonians 5:22, we are
to abstain from every form of evil
Ephesians 5:11, Galatians
5:21 – “such like:
Justification for gambling
 Look at the good it accomplishes
 If it takes a vice to support a good
work, what does that say about
society?
The end does not justify the means!
Look at the problems it creates (as
we have seen)
Justification for gambling
 What about charities?
 Consider the principles!
Why not make an outright
donation where the charity
gets 100% of the donation?
Justification for gambling
 What about wagering on a game of
skill? (i.e. sports betting, etc.)
 Consider the principles! It is still
gambling.
You are wagering on an outcome that
has not yet been determined. Most
such betting is odds based upon risk.
Further, there is a reason those involved
in a sport cannot gamble therein!
Like many other worldly
activities, gambling is simply not
needed in the life of a Christian
How is your influence in
these matters?