by
Ronald A. Reno
Many contend that since the Bible contains no direct prohibitions against gambling, it provides no guidance on the matter. In actuality, there is a multitude of Scriptural principles that bear directly on how Christians should view this activity. Following are some of the most important.
Love
of Neighbor
Jesus
commanded, "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31). Gambling,
meanwhile, is predicated on the losses, pain, and suffering of others. For one
to win at gambling, others must lose. For many, the ramifications attributable
to their gambling losses are profound. Families touched by a gambling addiction
are at greatly increased risk for such negative outcomes as divorce, bankruptcy,
child abuse, domestic violence, crime, and suicide. More than 15 million
Americans already struggle with a gambling problem, and the number continues to
grow as gambling expands.
See also Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31, 10:25-37; Romans 12:10; Philippians 2:3-4; Hebrews 13:1-2.
Exploiting
the Poor
Gambling preys on the desperation of the poor. The National Gambling Impact Study Commission found that those with incomes less than $10,000 spend more on lottery tickets than any other income group. High school dropouts spend four times as much as college graduates. Scripture exhorts us to look out for the poor and disadvantaged, and issues strong warnings against taking advantage of their plight.
See, for instance, Proverbs 14:21, 14:31, 22:16; Isaiah 3:14-15; Amos 5:11-12; Zechariah 7:10.
Work
Ethic
Work
has been part of God's design for mankind from the very beginning. We are to
invest our time and energies into labors that supply our needs and those of our
families (Proverbs 31, Second Thessalonians 3:10, First Timothy 5:8) and that
allow us to share with others (Ephesians 4:28). Scripture is replete with
exhortations toward industriousness and admonitions against slothfulness.
Gambling, meanwhile, portends something for nothing. Indeed, gambling
advertising and marketing frequently belittles hard work and diligence.
See also Genesis 2:15; Exodus 20:9; Proverbs 12:11, 13:4, 20:4, 21:25, 28:19.
Greed
Gambling
is founded on greed and undergirded by a "get-rich-quick" appeal. In a
recent national poll, two-thirds of respondents stated that the reason they
gamble is to win money. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:9-10: "People
who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and
harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money
is a root of all kinds of evil."
See also Proverbs 15:27, 28:20; Matthew 6:31; Luke 12:15; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; Hebrews 13:5.
Covetousness
The 10th Commandment (Exodus 20:17) prohibits Christians from coveting another's possessions. Gambling is precisely the attempt to obtain the resources of others without providing anything of value in return. Some have rightly described gambling as consensual theft.
Stewardship
Christians
are responsible before God for how they invest the resources entrusted to them,
as the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) makes clear. In many cases,
money spent on gambling is money that should have gone to provide for the health
of one's family or the advancement of a worthy cause. In all cases, it is an
unwise investment with an almost-certain negative return. More importantly, such
spending propagates an immoral, predatory and exploitative industry.
See also Genesis 1:26; Romans 14:12; 1 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Colossians 3:17.
The
Role of Government
The God-ordained purpose of government, as outlined in Romans 13:1-5, is to protect the welfare of the citizenry and to suppress evil. State-sanctioned gambling does the opposite. It victimizes many, especially the most vulnerable. It also condones-and even promotes-a vice that has historically been repressed specifically because of its inherent debilitating and corruptive nature.
Deception
Legal
gambling operations are steeped in deceit. Lotteries that conceal or misstate
the odds, casinos without clocks or windows to hide the passage of time, slot
machines programmed for "near misses," and "riverboat"
casinos that cannot sail are but a few examples. Scripture, on the other hand,
detests deceitful conduct (Psalm 5:6: "You destroy those who tell lies;
bloodthirsty and deceitful men the Lord abhors"). Indeed, Jesus describes
Himself as the embodiment of truth (John 14:6) and Satan as "the father of
lies" (John 8:44).
See also Psalms 26:4, 55:23, 101:7; Proverbs 14:8, 12:20, 24:28; Romans 1:29.
Avoiding
Temptation
Gambling establishments are often host to other corrupting vices, including prostitution and drunkenness. Christians are urged to avoid such environments (1 Thessalonians 5:22: "Avoid every kind of evil"). In 1 Corinthians 15:33, Paul writes, "Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'" Other Scriptures warn believers to flee temptation (1 Corinthians 6:18, 2 Timothy 2:22).
Lack
of Trust in God
The
Bible teaches that Christians are to look to God as their provider, and that we
are to be content with the material blessings we receive from His hand. To
engage in gambling indicates a lack of trust in and dissatisfaction with God's
provision.
See, for instance, Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:11-12, 4:19; 1 Timothy 6:6; Hebrews 13:5.
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