Do you play the lottery?

[0145xyz]

I just watched a tv show on tlc about lottery winners, it was very interesting. I was wondering do you play the lottery?, why or why not?

 

[Beautiful Fireball]

I don't just because I have had bad experiences with people that play it.

 

[Angel_Delight]

I've played it twice since i was 16 but not recently. The chances of me winning are very small so i'd prefer to save the money and spend it on something worthwhile

 

[KellyLeigh]

no, i think it's a waste of money

 

[lovesbrightpink]

It is a waste of money but its fun to me

 

[Singin4Him]

No, that would be gambling and the Lord tells us not to gamble.

 

[Blank123]

occasionally i'll buy a lotto ticket if i happen to be at the drugstore anyways. I've never won anything but its still fun to do once in a while.

No, that would be gambling and the Lord tells us not to gamble.

where did He say that?

 

[andiesmama]

yep, if we're out & about, we'll do like a $5 quick pick or something...you never know!!

 

[Singin4Him]

occasionally i'll buy a lotto ticket if i happen to be at the drugstore anyways. I've never won anything but its still fun to do once in a while.



where did He say that?

Of course the Word does not specifically say "thou shalt not gamble" but it also does not say "thou shalt not snort cocaine" and the word "rape" is not used in the bible but it is known universally as sin.

The Lord is very clear that we are to be good stewards with out money, tell me how gambling and in this case playing the lottery is being a good steward? We are to be "faithful and sensible" stewards of the things entrusted to us by God (Luke 12:42). Someday we must give an account of our stewardship (Luke 16:1-2) and because the Lord is the author of all things , including our money (Psalm 24:1; Exodus 18:4; Psalm 50:10-12) we really don't have the right to involve ourselves in taking risks such as gambling, throwing away what belongs to God. The probability of winning the lottery is low, therefore we wasting God's goods.

Matthew 6:19-24
19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 "The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.
23 "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

To add to that for me personally when it comes to issues such as this I ask myself 3 questions:
1. Does it bring glory to God? 1Cor. 10:31
2. Will it further the kingdom of God? Mat. 6:33
3. Does it strengthen my relationship with God? John 17:3

For me it's hard to answer yes to those questions when it comes to something such as this.

 

[KillerV]

Sorry there ain't nothing wrong with putting some cash in the slot machine Those verses really didn't state anything wrong with gambling,sorry. Just don't let it over take you.My very good friend was having major cash issues and couldn't pay his morgage. The Lord spoke very clearly to him and said go put a quarter in the first slot machine you see. Well he obeyed,and did just that and won thousands of dollars and he was able to pay his morgage.

 

[Singin4Him]

Sorry there ain't nothing wrong with putting some cash in the slot machine Those verses really didn't state anything wrong with gambling,sorry. Just don't let it over take you.My very good friend was having major cash issues and couldn't pay his morgage. The Lord spoke very clearly to him and said go put a quarter in the first slot machine you see. Well he obeyed,and did just that and won thousands of dollars and he was able to pay his morgage.

Now that your friend won that money does he gamble consistently? I'm sorry but I am very questioning of someone who says the Lord told them to play a slot machine to win money. I think God's providence is far beyond a slot machine. Sometimes satan's scheme's to tempt us can be disguised in something that looks very good and much like the Lord. Gambling is an addiction and satan would love more than anything to cause a Christian to stumble into that.

 

[Godisgr8r]

My husband buys a ticket about once a week.

 

[wanderingone]

I don't because I don't gamble, it's a personal conviction, I don't think people who gamble are wrong (unless of course they have a weakness and gambling is causing them problems.. ) - I believe I am led not to because of my personal trouble being responsible with money... certainly gambling wouldn't help in that area of my life

 

[okiemommy26]

No I do not have the money to waste to buy lottery tickets all the time. Actually the lottery is new to my state. It has not been in here that long.

 

[wanderingone]

Gambling is an addiction and satan would love more than anything to cause a Christian to stumble into that.

Gambling in itself is not an addiction. Some people can be addicted to gambling, that doesn't mean every person who plays poker once a week, or hits atlantic city every month is addicted to gambling.

While I probably would ? the specific message of the quarter in the slot machine I think sometimes God hits us upside the head to pull us out of whatever box we have placed ourselves in so that we can learn to think more broadly about solutions to our troubles. Sometimes we get it right, sometimes we're off kilter, and sometimes when we're off kilter God sends us the help anyway.

 

[HeatherJay]

I checked no, but we do buy a ticket or two a year, maybe. It's rare.

 

[SweetBella]

no, but sometimes at Christmas Ill but the scratch tickets for stocking stuffers.

 

[progressivegal]

I don't actually play the lotterly (i.e. pick numbers for the weekly drawing), but I love scratch outs and will buy them on occasion. Especially this one called "Cash Words" that's like a crossword puzzle. It's alot of fun to play and it takes a while to finish so I don't feel like I've wasted my money entirely if I lose.
My family has always been big on scratch outs, we often give them as gifts, stick them in B-day or Christmas cards. I remember getting them in my Easter Baskets and Christmas stockings. When I was around four my aunt or Grandparents would buy me a dollar ticket every now and then, and if I won my Grandpa would take it in for me and give me the money. I also remember when I was kid (middle school ages I think, 12 or 13) my dad gave me some money and asked me if I would please buy a couple of scratch outs for my Grandpas birthday while he checked out. I was half way to the counter before I relized "wait a minute, I'm just a kid, I can't buy lottery tickets!". It was just never a big deal. I make it sound like we bought them all the time, but it was usually just special occasions.

 

[Singin4Him]

Gambling in itself is not an addiction. Some people can be addicted to gambling, that doesn't mean every person who plays poker once a week, or hits atlantic city every month is addicted to gambling.

I didn't mean gambling in itself is an addiction, but that it can be an addiction and is an addiction that satan would love to cause a Christian to stumble because of. It is pretty rare though that those who gamble do it once so I guess it all depends on your definition of addiction. Maybe it's just a "habit" for some and an addiction for others.

 

[ardeur]

hehe... I am a mathematician and I am well aware of the statistical impossibilities of winning the lottery to ever give into playing.