Is Gambling wrong?

[the.Sheepdog]

Another thread got me to thinking about what people think. To me Gambling is wrong as it is lust over money and hurts people. But what do you say and what does the bible say about it specifically? I admit I couldnt find much. Serving two masters, Love of money is the root, etc.

help me here? Thanks!

 

[mrhappy3]

Another thread got me to thinking about what people think. To me Gambling is wrong as it is lust over money and hurts people. But what do you say and what does the bible say about it specifically? I admit I couldnt find much. Serving two masters, Love of money is the root, etc.

help me here? Thanks!

I covered this about 6 months ago..I can dig out the thread if you so wish.

For me, Gambling is wrong if you put what you can't afford to lose on the table.

Stockbrokers gamble with our finances, and often lose, hence the crash of the banks and suchlike when the gamble is unlikely to reap dividends.

Gambling is said to be for the needy or the greedy.

I have gambled in the past and won..and won well. Did i sin ??

Well I gave the winnings away to help a good cause. Does that make it better ??

It is better NOT to gamble, but live within your means.

I have known people who got hooked and lost EVERYTHING.

Can you do it in moderation, like drinking or as a past time ??

Methinks its down to the individual.

The bible is silent on it, although some people can APPLY certain passages to it.

I had many vices when I came to the Lord, Gambling was one of them and was the last one to loosen its grip. I admit i enjoyed it, it gave me a buzz, it was stimulating.

But I have lost and lost heavily as well.

I'm sure their are far better things to put your energy into...but it ain't the unforgivable sin.

My father who came to the Lord about 7 years before he passed away..always had a daily bet...about 3 dollars (max).

But he didn't get "involved" as we say.

Hope that helped a bit

 

[lismore]

Another thread got me to thinking about what people think. To me Gambling is wrong as it is lust over money and hurts people. But what do you say and what does the bible say about it specifically? I admit I couldnt find much. Serving two masters, Love of money is the root, etc.

help me here? Thanks!

Indirectly there is a lot of scripture. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have. Do not extort anyone but be content with your pay. Do something productive with your hands.

These address the motivation for gambling and how there is a better way to earn your keep.

Directly the soldiers at the foot of the cross gambled for Jesus' clothing. Not a very noble mention.

Some folks can put a pound bet on, others get compulsive and put everything on a bet. For me I think its better for me just to keep away from it altogether.

 

[Faulty]

Another thread got me to thinking about what people think. To me Gambling is wrong as it is lust over money and hurts people. But what do you say and what does the bible say about it specifically? I admit I couldnt find much. Serving two masters, Love of money is the root, etc.

help me here? Thanks!

My take on it is basically the same as alcohol. As an event, no. As an addiction, yes.

 

[Floatingaxe]

Gambling is buying chances. I don't think that is wise handling of the finances that God has given us.

 

[pinetree]

A poker game with some friends can be fun.At least it is not those stupid casino games that everyone looses.

 

[Faulty]

I'm thinking the odds are better at a blackjack table than in the stock market these days. I've lost more in 'investments' this year that I ever dreamed of losing at a poker table through every hand I've ever played in this lifetime.

 

[the.Sheepdog]

man oh man me too. My 401K is looking pretty sad. The wifes too. I may never be able to retire. I'll have to die to get some rest!

 

[Cassidy]

On it's own...once in a while for fun...sure why not? But as a lifestyle...not something that I believe is God honouring in the slightest.

 

[FoundInGrace]

The disciples cast lots didn't they when choosing a disciple to fill Judas's place ?? can't quite remember. I sort of go with gambling not probably being the best steward of your money to gamble with it when there is the potential to lose it and then it seems like a waste, but then I work on Sundays so I'm not here to judge anyone on their choices..sigh... I hate working Sundays you can try to justify something to yourself but it doesn't make it right. We each have to answer for God for what we do with our money and our time oh joy.. God knows our hearts though... He knows everything, even the things we try to hide from ourselves.

I do personally think gambling doesn't really sit well with being a believer but as I say I have issues in my own lifestyle choices at the moment so this is said with compassion if people find themselves gambling and would rather not be.

 

[JCFantasy23]

It depends. Gambling is not only the love of money but can be an addiction. My mother was an addicted gambler pretty bad and I don't believe she was doing it for the money. She was trying to escape from her problems and a few friends invited her to the casino for "something to do". It escalated from there and she became addicted, as did her friends. It wasn't really about the money for her though.

 

[Optimax]

Gambling is putting one's faith in chance instead of God.

Doing so is saying God is not/may not supply my need/desire therefore I better do something.

Same with lottery tickets.

 

[Floatingaxe]

Gambling is putting one's faith in chance instead of God.

Doing so is saying God is not/may not supply my need/desire therefore I better do something.

Same with lottery tickets.

 

[NaLuvena]

I think if gambling becomes an addiction, then it is wrong. If you do it as a once in a while thing, that is fine.

I also don't think the "love of money" priciple applies to gambling, because those who love money hoard it. The lover of money would never risk the loss of his/her love.

 

[Strong in Him]

I suppose it depends on how you define gambling. Most of the time when we use the word we think of playing cards/roulette/slot machines/putting money on horses/buying a lottery ticket in the hope of winning some money. An occasional dip into these activities is not wrong in itself, but the danger is that it could become an addiction. If you lose, you want to try to get your money back; if you win, you may become addicted to the buzz it gives and want to try to win more. I suppose as with all things the key is - moderation for yourself if you feel you want to do it, but if you feel your example may lead someone else astray, don't. And personally I would not consider a career as a bookie, casino attendant (or whatever they're called), or anything that could lead someone into an addiction. I don't think I could work in a pub for the same reason.

But gambling = taking a chance, and this is something we should all be prepared to do - take a chance on God. We might prefer to call it a leap of faith, stepping out in faith, walking on water or whatever; it's not "chance" as such, because we know the One who is calling us to follow him. He has said that he will never turn us away or ever leave us, so however uncertain things may look, we trust that he is in charge.
I guess to a non Christian this may look like a huge risk though - eg Abraham; leaving his homeland to follow to God he could not see, and without knowing where he was leading. Or maybe Noah - building a huge ark in the middle of the desert with not a cloud in sight.

The sad thing is that some people will buy that lottery ticket because the prize money is tempting, though the odds aren't good, yet be too scared, or maybe stubbornly refuse, to take a chance on God, who gives the best gift of all, because they are scared he won't love them or may let them down.

 

[NaLuvena]

The sad thing is that some people will buy that lottery ticket because the prize money is tempting, though the odds aren't good, yet be too scared, or maybe stubbornly refuse, to take a chance on God, who gives the best gift of all, because they are scared he won't love them or may let them down.

God offers way better odds as well, a guaranteed win if you bet on Him.

 

[New_Wineskin]

help me here? Thanks!

If the Lord is telling you not to gamble , it is wrong . Otherwise , it isn't . It can't be simpler .

 

[dayhiker]

If the Lord is telling you not to gamble , it is wrong . Otherwise , it isn't . It can't be simpler .

I agree with your comment. I don't see a direct command not to gable in the Bible.
It also is good to know yourself. I loss in a gambling situation, so it makes no sense to gamble. If I tended to win, then I'd gamble.

dayhiker

 

[Faulty]

Gambling is putting one's faith in chance instead of God.

Doing so is saying God is not/may not supply my need/desire therefore I better do something.

Same with lottery tickets.

Not really. There is no such thing as chance (or luck) no matter how much some believe it is so. There is statistical probability, outside manipulation and divine intervention.

Even the back of a lotto ticket will tell you the odds of willing. I grant they are not good odds by any means but they are indeed odds citing the statistical probability of winning. It's not chance and never has been, it's math.

While taking my graduate courses for my Risk Management degree, I read a book called "Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk" and it chronicles how early society attributed everything to the 'will of the gods' and how over time we were able to discover the principles of probability through gambling of all things. Eventually this knowledge led to such industries as insurance, and such knowledge as statistics and probability. Fastinating read.