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7. Gambling is poor stewardship of God’s money. The scriptures teach that all Christians are stewards of God’s possessions. All that we have has actually been entrusted to us by God who will one day soon call us to account for our stewardship. This principle is clearly seen in Jesus’ words in Luke 16:2: “give an account of thy stewardship…” It is seen further in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) where it is clearly demonstrated that future rewards will largely depend on our present faithfulness to exercise wise management of our resources, money, time, and talents. Jesus also declares that those stewards who have squandered what the Lord entrusted to them will be cast into a place of outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30). 8. Gambling violates the biblical mandate to love one’s neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). The Christian is to live in a state of brotherly love, always seeking the benefit, blessing, and welfare of others (cf. Mark 12:28-31; Luke 10:25-37; Romans 15:1-2; I Corinthians 10:24; 13:5). The gambler, however, has no “neighbors” in the Christian sense. He seeks only his own benefit, gain, and profit. He knows that in order to win, others must lose. In order for him to increase, others must decrease. This is just the opposite of the
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I realize that, and that is where the sin lies. Gambling of any kind amounts to theft by permission. The coin is flipped, the dice are rolled, or the horses run, and somebody rakes in that which belongs to another. The Bible says, ‘In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.’ (Genesis 3:19) It doesn’t say, ‘By the flip of a coin shalt thou eat thy lunch.’ I realize that in most petty gambling no harm is intended, but the principle is the same as in big gambling. The difference is only the amount of money involved.”14 There is, without question, an almost inexplicable urge within mankind to gamble. It stirs the passions, and entices with visions of riches, excitement, and pleasure. It calls and beckons and makes extravagant promises to those who play. But like the mythological Sirens whose eerie songs lured ancient mariners to their death, gambling delivers only destruction. It is a mirage, a false hope, a wisp, a dream that quickly transforms into a nightmare of pain and misery. Like the devil, it lies. And as we have seen, gambling and the precepts of Scripture are hopelessly irreconcilable. Simply stated, gambling is sin. It is sin whether one gambles with little or with much, and it is sin whether one gambles in a casino or a church! Satan himself has painted and perfumed gambling to make it seem harmless, but that appearance is a masquerade. Gambling is a spiritual minefield: it appears safe to walk through, but in reality it is pregnant with death at every
I realize that, and that is where the sin lies. Gambling of any kind amounts to theft by permission. The coin is flipped, the dice are rolled, or the horses run, and somebody rakes in that which belongs to another. The Bible says, ‘In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.’ (Genesis 3:19) It doesn’t say, ‘By the flip of a coin shalt thou eat thy lunch.’ I realize that in most petty gambling no harm is intended, but the principle is the same as in big gambling. The difference is only the amount of money involved.”14 There is, without question, an almost inexplicable urge within mankind to gamble. It stirs the passions, and entices with visions of riches, excitement, and pleasure. It calls and beckons and makes extravagant promises to those who play. But like the mythological Sirens whose eerie songs lured ancient mariners to their death, gambling delivers only destruction. It is a mirage, a false hope, a wisp, a dream that quickly transforms into a nightmare of pain and misery. Like the devil, it lies. And as we have seen, gambling and the precepts of Scripture are hopelessly irreconcilable. Simply stated, gambling is sin. It is sin whether one gambles with little or with much, and it is sin whether one gambles in a casino or a church! Satan himself has painted and perfumed gambling to make it seem harmless, but that appearance is a masquerade. Gambling is a spiritual minefield: it appears safe to walk through, but in reality it is pregnant with death at every