Is gambling bad?

[Love&Pain]

I want to know your opinions on gambling or the lottery. My grandpa and father buy lottery tickets every day, is that bad. As christians are we to put our fatih and money into gambling everyday? I am not usre if gambling can be a good or bad thing when it comes to being a christian.

 

[praying]

I hope not becuase I love Atlantic City. I only go a few times a year. I only play the lottery when it is a lot of money and even then I forget to look at my tickets.

 

[Macca]

I want to know your opinions on gambling or the lottery. My grandpa and father buy lottery tickets every day, is that bad. As christians are we to put our fatih and money into gambling everyday? I am not usre if gambling can be a good or bad thing when it comes to being a christian.

Abraham told the king of Sodom that he had lifted his hand to God ( made a covenant) and would not allow anyone to cause him to prosper.
This may not seem to relate to gambling, but where do you rely on your prosperity to come from?
Who is the worst gambler? the one who gambles $1million of his $200 million dollars, or the one who gambles his last dollar in the hope of winning enough for food?
Macca.

 

[Bradford]

Remember- the Roman soldiers gambled at the foot of the cross for Christ's clothing...

Read from that what you will.

 

[Rafael]

This link has some advice based on scripture:
http://www.bible.com/answers/agamblin.html

Proverbs 28:22 He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

Proverbs 22:16 He who oppresses the poor to get gain for himself, and he who gives to the rich will surely come to want.

Proverbs 21:20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

Proverbs 22:16 ...he who gives to the rich will surely come to want.

 

[desi]

Gambling's only bad if you lose.

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

If you are gambling a set amount, say for a charity, then no, its not really bad. Its when people think they can win something from it, or become an addict, that is bad. So, in general, I'd say avoid it.

 

[Suzannah]

This link has some advice based on scripture:
http://www.bible.com/answers/agamblin.html

Proverbs 28:22 He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

Proverbs 22:16 He who oppresses the poor to get gain for himself, and he who gives to the rich will surely come to want.

Proverbs 21:20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

Proverbs 22:16 ...he who gives to the rich will surely come to want.

Great references raphe...ever think that the word "proverb" has become a household word, in common usage for "wise" saying??? Ever think that is a high compliment to our Lord's Scripture? I do ....thanks for posting these!
Agree with you and also this poster:

Remember- the Roman soldiers gambled at the foot of the cross for Christ's clothing...

Read from that what you will.

 

[Blindfaith316]

for me personally, no its not acceptable a convinction fo the Holy Spirit, and my husband also!

 

[allieisme]

Gambling is way wrong.. I'll find the scriptures to back myself up, but why would God like you to gamble your money away?
Proverbs 28:20
A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
IMO gambling gives you a sense of false freedom, and our faith is in the Lord, not in a game of chance.
**AND**
If you gamble and win, you are NOT earing your own money, therefore it will not be blessed by God

 

[allieisme]

Gambling's only bad if you lose.

ROFL...I'm sorry, this statement really did make me chuckle, because that is so far from the truth..

 

[Love&Pain]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I appreciate everyone for helping me. My pastor told us that we shouln't play the lottery but if you do and we win we have to give 10% to the church. My pastor is a comedian but he can also be serious. Thanks again.

 

[Caelum]

Well, I currently work in a casino. And I can tell you first hand that gambling has a horrible effect on peoples lives who indulge in it. If you go once in a while, and don't allow it to control you or your life, I can see only minimal harm in it. But unfortunately, being at a casino 5 days a week I very rarely see the "occasional" player, and its usually regulars and/or gamblers with problems. Luckily my title there is justified in good intent and not that of greed and taking others money (I work as a stand-by EMT). Furthermore, I agree and confess the following:

Gambling encourages the sins of greed and covetousness.
Gambling promotes mismanagement of possessions entrusted to us by God.
Gambling undermines absolute reliance on God for His provision.
Gambling works at cross purposes with a commitment to productive work.
Gambling is a potentially addictive behavior.
Gambling threatens the welfare of our neighbor and militates against the common good.

"The document stops short of saying that every form of gambling is in and of itself contrary to the Word of God and therefore sinful."

 

[Caelum]

Here is a link with a good point of view:

http://www.bible.com/answers/agamblin.html

"He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him" (Proverbs 28:22).

 

[Suzannah]

Well, I currently work in a casino. And I can tell you first hand that gambling has a horrible effect on peoples lives who indulge in it. If you go once in a while, and don't allow it to control you or your life, I can see only minimal harm in it. But unfortunately, being at a casino 5 days a week I very rarely see the "occasional" player, and its usually regulars and/or gamblers with problems. Luckily my title there is justified in good intent and not that of greed and taking others money (I work as a stand-by EMT). Furthermore, I agree and confess the following:

Gambling encourages the sins of greed and covetousness.
Gambling promotes mismanagement of possessions entrusted to us by God.
Gambling undermines absolute reliance on God for His provision.
Gambling works at cross purposes with a commitment to productive work.
Gambling is a potentially addictive behavior.
Gambling threatens the welfare of our neighbor and militates against the common good.

"The document stops short of saying that every form of gambling is in and of itself contrary to the Word of God and therefore sinful."

Amen! for a few years, I worked for Harrah's Casinos as a Surviellance Manager...all of the above is 100percent, Absolute Truth...no question about it in my mind.

 

[Caelum]

Amen! for a few years, I worked for Harrah's Casinos as a Surviellance Manager...all of the above is 100percent, Absolute Truth...no question about it in my mind.

Heh, a lot of people like to deny that because it's a socially acceptable sin, yet, it is still a sin, no matter how many people "accept" it or say otherwise.

Caelum

 

[Steve_SandbachBaptist_UK]

I have always been told that gambling goes against God's will. But at the end of the end of the day people will do what they like and only God can judge - "Let he who hath no sin cast the first stone."

Steve

 

[12volt_man]

Gambling is like anything else. There's nothing inherently wrong with it unless it becomes an idol or encourages you to sin.

In and of itself, it's not a sin.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go and put fifty bucks on Smarty Jones in tomorrow's Belmont Stakes.

 

[Sketcher]

It really depends on why a person gambles.

Here's something to chew on. Does anyone gamble because they trust God, or do they just gamble and hope God will back them up?

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

Gambling to get rich quick, to win, or for any other greedy reason is a sin. Gambling with trust in God is basically asking God to give in to your greed.