Throughout the Old and New Testaments, we read about people
casting lots when a decision had to be made. In most instances,
this was simply a way of determining something impartially:
Joshua then cast lots for them
in Shiloh in the presence of the LORD, and there he distributed the
land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions.
(Joshua 18:10, NIV)
Casting lots was common among many ancient cultures. Roman
soldiers cast lots for Jesus' garments at his crucifixion:
"Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide
by lot who will get it." This happened that the scripture might be
fulfilled which said, "They divided my garments among them and cast
lots for my clothing." So this is what the soldiers did. (John
19:24, NIV)
Although the words "gambling" and "gamble" do not appear in the
Bible, we cannot assume that an activity is not a sin simply
because it is not mentioned. Looking at pornography on the Internet
and using illegal drugs are not mentioned either, but both violate
God's laws.
While casinos and lotteries promise thrills and excitement,
obviously people gamble to try to win money. Scripture gives very
specific instructions about what our attitude should be toward
money:
Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves
wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is
meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 5:10, NIV)
"No servant can serve two masters. [Jesus said.]
Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be
devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God
and money." (Luke 16:13, NIV)
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. (1 Timothy 6:10, NIV)
Gambling is a way to bypass work, but the Bible counsels us to
persevere and work hard:
Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring
wealth. (Proverbs 10:4, NIV)
One of the key principles in the Bible is that people should be
wise stewards of everything God gives them, including their time,
talent and treasure. Gamblers may believe they earn their money
with their own labor and may spend it as they please, yet God gives
people the talent and health to carry out their jobs, and their
very life is a gift from him as well. Wise stewardship of extra
money calls believers to invest it in the Lord’s work or to save it
for an emergency, rather than lose it in games in which the odds
are stacked against the player.
Gamblers covet more money, but they may also covet the things
money can buy, such as cars, boats, houses, expensive jewelry and
clothing. The Bible forbids a covetous attitude in the Tenth
Commandment:
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not
covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his
ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
(Exodus 20:17, NIV)
Gambling also has the potential to turn into an addiction, like
drugs or alcohol. According to the National Council on Problem
Gambling, 2 million U.S. adults are pathological gamblers and
another 4 to 6 million are problem gamblers. This addiction can
destroy the stability of the family, lead to job loss, and cause a
person to lose control of their life:
…for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. (2
Peter 2:19)
Some argue that gambling is nothing more than entertainment, no
more immoral than going to a movie or concert. People who attend
movies or concerts expect only entertainment in return, however,
not money. They are not tempted to keep spending until they "break
even."
Finally, gambling provides a sense of false hope. Participants
place their hope in winning, often against astronomical odds,
instead of placing their hope in God. Throughout the Bible, we are
constantly reminded that our hope is in God alone, not money,
power, or position:
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from
him. (Psalm 62:5, NIV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you
trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of
the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13, NIV)
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be
arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain,
but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with
everything for our enjoyment. (1 Timothy 6:17, NIV)
Some Christians believe that church raffles, bingos and the like
to raise funds for Christian education and ministries are harmless
fun, a form of donation involving a game. Their logic is that, as
with alcohol, an adult should act responsibly. In those
circumstances, it seems unlikely someone would lose a large amount
of money.
Every leisure activity is not a sin, but all sin is not clearly
listed in the Bible. Added to that, God doesn't just want us not to
sin, but he gives us an even higher goal. The Bible encourages us
to consider our activities in this way:
"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is
beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be
mastered by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12, NIV)
This verse appears again in 1 Corinthians 10:23, with the
addition of this idea: "Everything is permissible"—but not
everything is constructive." When an activity is not
distinctly described as sin in the Bible, we can ask ourselves
these questions: "Is this activity beneficial for me or will it
become my master? Will participation in this activity be
constructive or destructive to my Christian life and witness?"
The Bible does not explicitly say, "Thou shalt not play
blackjack." Yet by gaining a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures
we have a trustworthy guide for determining what pleases and displeases
God.