Can Christians Gamble?

A faithful man will about with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
Proverbs 28:20 (NKJV)

Many times I am asked, “Can a Christian play the lottery?” While there is no passage that strictly prohibits gambling, I think the Word makes it plainly clear that it is not in our best interest to do so. When asked this question, I typically respond “Would God want you to spend His money that way?” Remember, it ALL belongs to God and we are just stewards of what He has entrusted to us.

I think that we all, at some time or another, have dreamed what it would be like to hit the lottery, have a long-lost uncle leave us a truckload of money, discover buried treasure in the backyard, or receive some other overnight windfall of wealth. Our financial problems and concerns would all end. We would never have to worry about money again. The house and cars would all be paid off and we’d never have to drive an old clunker again. We’d be able to send the kids to the college of their choice without going into debt. We would be free to travel around the world and not have to stay at an economy motel with a cooler of food in our room so that we don’t have to eat out. Yes, such a windfall would be a blessing, wouldn’t it?

Perhaps not. It’s not surprising that a high percentage of lottery winners end up back where they started, or even in bankruptcy, within a few months of winning their jackpots. Follow-up interviews with many of these ‘winners’ reveal that they felt cursed after their windfall; the money strained relationships with friends and relatives, they were constantly harassed for donations and solicitations, everybody gave them advice on how to handle their money, and they were presented with many investment opportunities that almost always turned sour.

People that aren’t used to having large sums of money typically don’t know how to handle large sums of money. Most just aren’t aware of their own ignorance and plunge ahead into indulgences, investments and purchases, thinking that they are millionaires and have an endless supply of cash.

Whenever I find myself in a discussion about gambling or the lottery, here are some typical excuses that come up:

It’s only for entertainment – If Jesus was standing next to you in line at the convenience store, would you want Him to see you buying that ticket? When you play the lottery, what are you really buying? You are buying into a fantasy of wealth and an easy, carefree lifestyle that wouldn’t be pleasing to the Lord. Remember Luke 12:34, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Instead of spending your money on lottery tickets and slot machines, use that money to support a child in a impoverished country. It’s amazing how your thoughts will turn from fantasies of riches to what is going on in this child’s homeland.

Lottery money goes to help out the schools – The truth is, only a small percentage of lottery funds actually goes to the school systems, and the money that does go to the schools used to come from other sources. The government is just replacing the source of the funds; no extra money is going towards education. In fact, if you do a study on the school’s budget in your area, chances are, there have been budget cuts in recent years. If you really want to help out the schools, consider donating money directly to your child’s school: you could fund a pet and its supplies for the classroom, sponsor a child that can’t afford to purchase their lunch, or purchase posters or other learning aids. Check with your child’s teacher or an administrator, I’m sure they could come up with a few other suggestions.

 I could use the money to help the church/missionaries/ministries – Yes, imagine the good that could be done if you donated thousands of dollars to your church, or the people that could be reached in the missions field, or the lives that could be changed through local ministries. Yes, a lot of good could be done in the name of the Lord. However, don’t you think that God is providing for those causes that He has called? Trust in the Lord to finish the work that He has started. He doesn’t want your money if you suddenly come into wealth, He wants your obedience now with what He has entrusted you with currently.