Introduction:
Gambling is rolling in America, with every state except Utah and Hawaii having legalized some form of betting.
The state of Mississippi, which legalized gambling in 1992, is one of the fastest growing gaming states in the U.S. Even after the destructive forces of Hurricane Katrina demolished several casinos on the Gulf Coast, they have been rebuilt and/or relocated and back in operation.
In Alabama, we constantly must fight against forces that hope to expand legalized gambling in our state. In 1999 the people of Alabama said “NO” to a state operated lottery, but in spite of the strong vote of the people our legislators keep trying to expand gambling. The Alabama Supreme Court ruled in 2006 that sweepstake gambling in Alabama is illegal. That ruling closed numerous gambling establishments. Still, every year several bills are presented in the legislature to increase gambling.
There are many good biblical reasons why we should say “NO” to gambling:
I. There are biblical commandments against gambling
Is there a commandment against gambling?
Yes, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Yes, Thou shalt not steal (gambling is robbery by mutual consent).
Yes, Thou shalt not covet.
No, the Bible does not say, “Thou shalt not gamble.” But are we so intellectually and morally illiterate that we must have everything spelled out on a third grade level? Don’t we know anything about spiritual principles? Gambling did not trouble Israel, so the first direct reference to gambling did not come until Isaiah 65:11 where it says, “Who forsake the Lord, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny.” Fortune and Destiny were the pagan gods of fate who symbolized good and bad luck.
One other direct reference to gambling came from Matthew 27:35 where the soldiers gambled for the garments of Jesus at the crucifixion.
II. The Bible attacks gambling as covetousness
There is no doubt that gambling is a form of covetousness. It is a desire to have something that does not belong to you. It is a desire to get things the easy way–something for nothing or almost nothing. The Bible says in Exodus 20:17, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
III. The Bible assures us that gambling is caused by greed
Greed is a basic motive in gambling. The people who own casinos, dog and horse tracks and other gambling establishments are motivated by greed. If not for the huge profits there would be no gambling industry. The people who go to gambling sites are there also because of greed. They want to get rich quick, even though the odds against them are astronomical. Jesus said in Luke 12:15, “For a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth.”
IV. The Bible attacks gambling from the law of love
Gambling stands in opposition to the biblical law of love. In Mark 12:31 Jesus told his followers, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Love imposes strong demands upon our lives. How can I love my neighbor and at the same time take his wealth, giving him nothing in return? Love refuses to engage in actions that mistreat or exploit others. My desire should be to give, not take from those I love. Gambling values taking or winning not giving.
The good Samaritan story of Jesus reveals there are no limits on love (Luke 10:25-37), for it is the law of the King, the principle by which our lives must be regulated.
Love meets needs but gambling exploits, love entreats but gambling mistreats, love strengthens but gambling weakens, love builds up but gambling tears down, love never fails but gambling ever fails.
V. The Bible promotes good stewardship against gambling
Gambling undermines good stewardship. Christians are to put their trust in God for their financial resources, not in blind fate such as gambling. Ultimately, all things belong to God and we are his stewards (Psalm 24:1). We are to handle his resources wisely and gratefully. I do not think God wants his money put to the gambler’s wheel.
The New Testament teaches that we first give ourselves to God (2 Corinthians 8:5), then out of that surrender we gratefully use whatever money or property we have for God’s glory and human good (Luke 12:42-48).
Gambling is poor stewardship because gamblers are losers. The odds of winning the Florida lottery are 1 in 13,983,820. Your chances of being struck by lightning are greater than winning the lottery even if you play and pay on a regularly basis.
The Bible instructs us that good stewardship occurs when we use money for our basic needs, to support our family, contribute to the Lord’s work, give to the poor and to pay taxes. This precludes gambling.
VI. The Bible emphasizes work over gambling
Gambling destroys a proper work ethic. Honest work and honest wages go together. Luke 10:7 tells us “the laborer is worthy of his hire.” The parable of the talents gives us the option of investing (including the stock market–which is not gambling) in order to gain wealth, but is does not allow for gambling. Each person is obligated to work. One purpose for work is to gain wealth that can be used for God’s glory. However, work in itself is good. What would life be like, if one sat in idleness. I have heard people say, “If I won the lottery, I would quit my job.” If winning at gambling allowed you to stop working, that in itself would bring a certain amount of destruction to your life.
VII. The Bible promotes Christian influence in opposition to gambling
Gambling destroys one’s Christian influence. If your pastor or other influential Christians gambled, would your admiration and appreciation for them decline? Most likely it would. I Thessalonians 5:22 instructs us to abstain from all appearance of evil. All our actions should glorify God. Gambling will not bring glory to God even if you give the church 10% of your winnings or even 100%. Remember God cannot be bought, he already owns the cattle on a 1000 hills.
VIII. The Bible hates gambling because it corrupts government
The purpose of government is to serve and protect the citizens under its authority (Romans 13:1-7). Taxation is a legitimate method for government to raise revenue for its operating expenses (Matthew 22:21). When government legalizes gambling to supplement taxes, it transforms itself from a benevolent protector to a retailer of gambling. Through advertisement and other means it becomes a hostile predator and an exploiter of the people. When gambling (especially the lottery) becomes legal, the government promotes something that our forefathers stamped illegal and bad.
It is the responsibility of government to protect and possibly supply a safety net for the poor. When government legalizes gambling (especially lottery) it exploits the very people it is responsible to protect. Most studies show that the vast majority of lottery tickets are purchased by the poor. Money is used to buy tickets that should purchase food, clothing and lodging. Government sponsored lottery encourages the poor to be totally destitute.
IX. The Bible deplores gambling because it encourages crime
Studies show that when gambling comes to town, so does crime. In 1993, in Greenville, Mississippi, when riverboat gambling opened up, crime jumped 19%. When gambling was legalized in New Jersey, crime more than doubled from 1976 to 1989. In 1995 the FBI reported that organized crime families had infiltrated a Mississippi Gulf Coast casino and stolen a half million dollars.
There are numerous stories available about crime, prostitution and other vices that follow the gambling trade.
Conclusion:
Gambling contributes nothing to the common good. It undermines values, mocks work, finances crime, robs children, enslaves its addicts, subverts governments and poisons whatever it touches. Biblical insights lead us to reject its false promises and say “NO” to gambling.
(Mizzell is director of the Office of Christian Ethics/Chaplaincy Ministries, of the Alabama Baptist State Convention)
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