The Christian and Gambling

By: M. Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

98042

subject: gambling

Preached originally: 08/16/98 - Rapid City, SD

 

I.  Introduction.

A.    On Wed. July 29 the powerball lottery was held.  In the coming days the nation learned that 13 machinists from OH had won.

1.    news accounts wk before were full of accounts of people causing 10 mile traffic jams trying to get to convenience stores.

2.    Man from Jackson TN made 120 mile drive to KY line and bought $1000 $1 tickets.

3.    SD had a record turnout as people wanted a little chance to win big.

B.    All this despite odds of winning being tremendously negative.  80.1 million to one that luck would fall upon you.  Notice these other odds of importance…

C.   Yet more & more people continue to gamble & lose money.  In '96 a gallup poll indicated that over 60% of the US population gambles regularly.

1.    more than 80% of Americans approve of gambling.

2.    26 states now have lotteries.

3.    Casinos popping up in reservations, river boats, everywhere!

4.    Legalized gambling on horse racing, athletic events, and the like.

5.    Estimated that 95% of Americans will live w/in a 3 hr drive of a casino by 2000.

6.    Americans spend $10 billion/yr on charity sponsored bingo & casino games - but only 10% of that actually goes to charity.

7.    Americans in total wager $1 trillion annually or $4500 for every man, woman, & child in nation.

D.   SD had controversy over the lottery in '97 legislative session.  No action taken…

1.    Rapid City Journal: "support for video lottery has dwindled as more S. Dakotans see family members/friends get into trouble playing."

2.    One law maker in favor of repealing video lottery in state has said…the $180 million that players lose in machines each year could be spent for more useful things.  It's the worst thing that's ever happened to the economy of South Dakota.

E.    Could have spent all PM quoting statistics & never get into what the Bible says on the subject.

1.    growing temptation to Christians.

2.    Gambling justified by many for a # of reasons.

a.    support education

b.    fix roads

c.     help those who in need.

d.    Anything/everything.

F.    Lesson today will cover three basic points…

1.    what is gambling?

2.    Answering justifications made for gambling

3.    Why should the Christian not take part in a lottery or gamble at a casino?

 

II.  What is Gambling?

A.    Webster:  to play a game for money or other stake; hence to stake money or anything of value upon the uncertain event; to hazard; to wager.

1.    certain words are commonly associated w/gambling.  Notice:

2.    bet; stake; post; lay down; risk; venture.  All trying to make the thought of gambling more palatable.

B.    There are 3 essential elements associated with gambling.

1.    relies upon chance event or uncertain outcome.

2.    Something of value wagered depending upon the outcome of the event.

3.    That which is won is at the direct loss of others.

C.   Common types of gambling today are:

1.    check pools; bingo for money; cards for money; betting on sports events; games for money; lottery; etc.

D.   Games used in gambling in and of themselves not a problem…it is the wager…that is the problem.

1.    Nothing wrong w/a game of bingo, uno, etc.

2.    Man has taken these good things and turned them into games that violate Biblical principles.

 

III.  Justifications Offered for Gambling.

A.    It is taking a chance…life itself is a chance.  (Life is a gamble.)

1.    this argument seeks to confuse the matter.

a.    sin in gambling NOT in the amount of risk or in the size of the wager but in the wager itself!

b.    in order to win in gambling - everyone else has to lose!

2.    Farmers take necessary risks by investing in land/crops/machinery/working to make corps grow.

a.    people take risks by mortgaging a home; buying a car, etc.

b.    BUT….in these arenas gain is not sought at the loss of others!!!!

c.     Should not live our lives seeking to cause loss to others!  Mt. 7:12 comes to mind…

B.    It is for a good cause.

1.    a cunning deceit of the devil.  Tricks mankind into thinking that the end justifies the means.

a.    Paul accused of doing such in Rom. 3:8 - principle condemned in Scripture.

b.    Moses guilty of adhering to this practice & it cost him the promised land…

2.    Num. 20:7-13

a.    v. 8 - Moses commanded to speak to rock to bring forth water.

b.    V. 11 - Moses smote the rock to bring forth water.

c.     Got water each way….one way pleasing to God the other not.  End didn't justify the means & he was left out of the promised land.

C.   You can't find the word gamble in the Bible.

1.    True… BUT  find the words abortion; suicide; pornography in the Scriptures.  We know the last three violate Biblical principles - why not w/gambling?  If not why not?

2.    Gambling is wrong because it violates Biblical principle.

3.    Goes against everything the Bible stands for.

D.   Churches engage in gambling.

1.    True….will answer to God for their actions.

2.    Just b/c churches engage in certain activities doesn't make the activity right.

3.    1 Cor. 4:6;  Col. 3:17 - must do all in the name of the Lord!

 

IV.  Why Should the Christian Abstain from Gambling?

A.    Encourages irresponsible stewardship.

1.    Christians expected to manage their financial resources in a wise & proper manner.

a.    1 Chr. 29:10-14 - what we possess is the Lord's.

b.    1 Pet. 4:10 - Christians in the NT exhorted to be good stewards…

c.     Rom. 13:7 - we will give an account to God for how we use the resources that have been graciously provided to us!

2.    Gambling is anything BUT financial stewardship!

a.    give a man a $100 bill & he looks at it like a round of golf, golf cart, two beers & a hot dog.  But if you give him chips…it's just betting units and it loses it's value.

b.    Guy admits it takes a little deceit to get the normal person to lay his money on the table. 

c.     Chips used to promote irresponsibility.

3.    More Statistics…

a.    ones who need money most are the majority who throw money away on hopes of winning it all in lottery/casino.

b.    65% of lottery players have incomes of > $18,000/yr.

c.     Only 12% of lottery players have incomes of < $80,000/yr.

B.    Gambling is addictive.

1.    very nature of gambling is addictive.

a.    Iowa:  1-800-BETSOFF.  Billboards everywhere.

b.    SD…legislatures want to repeal video lottery b/c of it's addictive nature.

2.    Friends:  addiction is sin.

a.    when activities/hobbies/pursuits are placed above Biblical principles & commands we sin!  We miss the mark & fall short of the glory of God. 

b.    To place ourselves in the pathway of sin is only asking for trouble!

c.     Mt. 6:24

3.    Christians called to be separate from the world.  Consider the two following passages!

a.    2 Cor. 6:17-18

b.    1 Pet. 2:9-12

C.   It violates the Biblical principle of labor & work.

1.    gambling encourages laziness.

a.    way of man:  created by God - to work.

b.    Gen. 2:15; 3:19

2.    Slothfulness & prosperity at the expense of others is not the will of God - Prov. 6:9-11.

a.    see also 1 Tim. 5:8

b.    2 Thess. 3:10

3.    Gambler profits at the expense of another's labor.  Gambling is non-productive & parasitic in nature.

a.    gambling come to town:  crime go up.

b.    Gambling come to town:  delinquency goes up.

D.   Gambling violates Biblical principles of economics.

1.    Bible contains 3 legitimate means of transferring money/property.

a.    law of labor & capital - money/worth paid for physical & mental effort expended.  See  Eph. 4:28; Lk. 10:7; 1 Cor. 9:9-10.

b.    Law of exchange - a commodity exchanged for it's value in monetary goods.  See Mt. 13:44-46; 25:27; Lk. 22:36

c.     Law of love - value given w/o expectation or desire for return.

1.    Rom 13:10 - give to relieve physical distress.

2.    Eph. 4:28; Acts 2:45; 11:29

2.  Gambling violates all 3 of these!  How?

a.    gambling = covetousness.  Seeks rewards for another's labor.

1.    Col. 3:5 - covetousness condemned by Paul through inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

2.    Rom. 13:9 - condemned again.

b.    gambler takes by trickery that which belongs to another.

E.    Gambling compromises one's influence as a Christian.

1.    Mt. 5:16  - we are to be an example.

2.    Rom. 12:1-2 - to be transformed from the world.

a.    to be a godly example to those who are around us!

b.    Gambling NOT conductive to godliness.

3.    picture Jesus financing his work in a card game, shooting dice, even betting on a horse race.

a.    1 Pet. 2:21-23

4.    Phil. 4:8 - where does gambling fit in these principles?

 

V.  Conclusion.

A.    gambling does not involve gain by reason of labor, exchange or love and does not fit into God's scheme of thing reflecting his nature.

B.    For reasons both temporal and spiritual, gambling is a sin and as such Christians can not participate in it.

C.   If it is a sin, then it is a sin regardless of the amount wagered.

D.   The sincere child of God will keep himself from all appearance of evil according to 1 Thess. 5:22.

1.    1 Jhn. 2:15-17 - must not love the world

2.    Js. 1:27 - keep oneself unspotted from the world.

E.  I N V I T A T I O N