Tab Notes Answers To Tough Questions By Pastor Roosevelt Wright, Jr.

    Generally, Christians frown upon gambling because it runs counter to the preponderance of scriptural teaching concerning trusting in God and honest labor.
    Some have erroneously characterized those who spend huge sums on lottery tickets, horses casinos and other games of chance as sinning.  In actuality there are no verses in the bible that even remotely condemn gambling. There is no 11th commandment that says "thou shalt not gamble."  A person who buys an occasional lottery ticket is not in danger of hell fire, although the person  puts himself in the position of giving questionable witness by participating in what is considered in the faith community as an activity in conflict with faith. There are several life virtues that the bible does teach that indicates that those who do gamble have not embraced.
     GAMBLING ENCOURAGES GREED:  Those who gamble, especially those who venture beyond the occasional lottery ticket or chance ticket, tread on the dangerously unstable ground of covetness. Covetness involves wanting what others have so much that you become unhappy with what you have, even though what you have is not all that bad. Those who covet become greedy and they see gambling as a way to get money to buy what they want. 1 Timothy 6:10 addresses this subject, "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."  Those who gamble have ceased to live lives of faith and are being driven by a desire to get more money.
    Hebrews 13:5 gives what should be our resolve: "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."  While gambling is not a specific sin, those who embrace it seem to suggest an attitude that without it they have no chance because God has forsaken them. But never forsakes. He is always present and will never leave us.
     GAMBLING DISCOURAGES HONEST LABOR:  The basic tenet of the bible is based on the idea that every person should give an honest day's work for a honest day's pay. To a degree, gambling discourages work. It encourages a person to simply wait on the lucky day when he will hit the number and rest from his life of waiting on the right number. It encourages him to find a "get rich quick" scheme and a short cut to wealth without applying the abundance of talents that God has given him in the market place of business and labor.  Proverbs 28:19-20 puts it this way, " He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent."
     Again the word "faith" keeps coming up. The gambler does not place his faith in God but in the odds. The faithful man works and invests wisely knowing that God will provide the increase. The unfaithful seeks increase without effort and misses the blessing.
     GAMBLING ENCOURAGES A RECKLESS INVESTMENT OF GOD GIVEN RESOURCES:  We are stewards over resources that God has put within our control. He allows us to control a small part of his creation. What we manage on his behalf may include a home, a car, land, business interests and a money. Without a doubt we are expected to work to build up that which has been given to us through wise investment and hard work. We know this is true when we read  Matthew 25:14-30. It details how God gives each of us talents and expects us to invest that talent wisely to produce an increase.
    Gambling represents a reckless investment. There is a difference between a wise investment and a gamble. When the chances of winning are higher than the chances of losing then a venture is often considered a wise investment. A wise investor investigates the track record of a prospective venture and studies the variables that project its future. He also seeks assurances against loss and considers the prospect of a modest return. A gamble is hazardous because it is just the opposite of a wise investment. The chances of losing at a gamble are greater than the chances of winning. There is no way to assure oneself  that a  loss will be minimal or even to expect even a modest return. Those who gamble, recklessly invest God's resources.