Scripture On Gambling Kjv

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Where In The Bible Does It Say Gambling Is A Sin? Ive tried to find where in the Bible it says Gambling is a sin and I havent had much luck. Even doing a word search I never found the word Gamble anywhere in the whole KJV Bible. Ive heard that gambling is a sin. Can anyone tell me where in script. Gambling or 'gaming' for stakes is becoming increasingly popular. A person can bet by lottery, casino, poker, slot machines, raffles, office pools, sports wagers, or online betting. But is gambling moral or immoral according to the Bible? Should a Christian gamble? What does the Bible say? What about gambling addiction?

Whilemost people view gambling as an innocent pass-time activity so longas it is practiced legally, others see it as a sinful and dangerousvice. Some forms of legal gambling, for example, government-sponsoredlotteries, bring in revenue that is used in programs for the benefitof the public.

  1. 'Casting lots,' the ancient version of gambling, was very common in many old societies. At Jesus's crucifixion, the soldiers cast lots for his clothes. However, in modern times we come across gambling, and not casting lots, in many situations. Although the Bible never specifically says gambling is b.
  2. Bible verses related to Gambling from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance - Sort By Book Order Proverbs 13:11 - Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

Understandingwhat the Bible says about gambling all depends on your comprehensionand interpretation as it does not directly quote betting. Suchsilence breeds fertile grounds for discussion and disagreement.Opinions on the morality of betting vary from total abstinence toacceptance in moderation. The Bible does, however, offer a fewguiding principles that disclose how God feels about gambling.

Whatthe Bible Says About Gambling

Winningmoney at the expense of others is gambling’s essential nature. Thisis against the Bible’s teachings “to guard against every sort ofgreed (Luke 12: 15- Thenhe said to them, “Watchout! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does notconsist in an abundance of possessions.”)gambling in itself is fueled by greed to gain even more than youalready have. Gaming platforms promote big jackpots while not talkingabout the poor odds of winning. They know that fantasies of “getrich quick” are more popular among players and prompt them tobet vast amounts at casinos. Gambling promotes the urge and desirefor easy money rather than help people guard themselves against greedand covetousness.

Gamblingis also based on a deeply-rooted selfish goal which is winning cashthat has been lost by other players. The Bible, however, talk aboutthis in 1 Corinthians 10: 24; “Letno man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth”(KJV). Oneof the commandments also states that in Exodus 20:17; “Youshall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covetyour neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox ordonkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”(NIV). Whena gambler puts his heart in winning a bet, he is hoping that anotherman loses their money so that he can profit.

TheBible also advises against seeing good luck as a mystic force thatwill grant blessings. In ancient Israel, some who lacked faith in Godbegan “setting a table for the god of Good Luck.” Suchdevotion to the god of Good Luck was unacceptable to God and he saidto them, “Butas for you who forsake the Lordandforget my holy mountain,whospread a table for Fortuneandfill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny,Iwill destine you for the sword,andall of you will fall in the slaughter;forI called, but you did not answer,Ispoke, but you did not listen.Youdid evil in my sightandchose what displeases me.”(Isaiah 65: 11, 12).

TheBible stresses the supremacy of God in Matthew 10: 29-30; “Arenot two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fallon the ground without your Father.Butthe very hairs of your head are all numbered” (KJV).Gambling is, however, based on chance. The Bible goes ahead to adviseus to work creatively and for the benefit of others in Ephesians 4:28; “Lethim that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working withhis hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to himthat needeth,” (KJV).Gambling, on the other hand, nurtures an attitude of “somethingfor nothing.”

Scripture

TheBible cautions against materialism in Matthew 6: 24, 25; “Noman can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and lovethe other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Yecannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take nothought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; noryet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more thanmeat, and the body than raiment?” (KJV). Gambling,on the other hand, promotes materialism.

Inthe letter of St. Paul, Colossians 3: 23-24; “Whateveryou do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, notfor human masters,24 sinceyou know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as areward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (NIV).This message consecrates work as instituted by God, and those whotoil with all their might will be rewarded by God. Gambling, incomparison to this tends to be a pass-time activity that benefitsmen.

In2 Thessalonians 3: 7-10, Paul wrote,“Foryou, yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were notidle when we were with you,8 nordid we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, weworked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would notbe a burden to any of you.9 Wedid this, not because we do not have the right to such help, butin order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.10 Foreven when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one whois unwilling to work shall not eat” (NIV).St. Paul emphasizes more on the sanctification of work and theimportance of man to eat of his sweat. Gambling feeds people withquick-money illusions, thereby deviating them from the true meaningof work.

TheBible approves of a couple of ways to honestly obtain goods or makemoney;

  1. Working to make money
  2. Acquire goods through barter trade
  3. Receiving lifetime gifts or inheritance after death

Thescripture rebukes any acquiring anything through lying, stealing, orcheating. It also condemns the desire to obtain what belongs to otherpeople.

Somemay argue that in some parts of the world, proceeds of legalizedgambling are used to fund education, economic development, and otherstate programs. The use of that money, however, does not change howit was obtained- through activities that promote selfishness andgreed and encourage the idea of getting something for nothing.

Effectsof gambling according to the Bible

TheBible cautions in 1 Timothy 6:9 that “thosewho want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap andinto many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruinand destruction.” (NIV).Gambling is based on greed, and greed is so harmful that the Biblenames it as one among other habits that one should strongly avoid inEphesians 5: 3; “Butamong you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, orof any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improperfor God’s holy people”. (NIV)

Ass gambling focuses on easy wealth, it fosters a love for money. TheBible identifies money as the root of all sorts of damaging andhurtful things in 1 Timothy 6: 10; “Forthe love of money is the root of all evil: which while some covetedafter, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves throughwith many sorrows.” (NIV).The yearning for money can easily become an overwhelming authority insomeone’s life hence creating intense anxiety and negativelyaffecting one’s faith in God. Literally speaking, the Book definesthose entangled by the love of money as having “piercedthemselves all over with many pains.”

Greedinessleads to discontent, leading to people being dissatisfied with theirfinancial status and taking away their happiness from them.Ecclesiastes 5: 10; “Hethat loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he thatloveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.” (KJV)

Manypeople who have been tempted to gambling have found themselvestrapped by the brutal addiction to gambling. This disorder isprevalent, and millions of gambling addicts have been recorded in theUnited States alone.

Oneverse in Proverbs 20: 21 states; “Aninheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning, but the endthereof shall not be blessed.”Betting has thrust many into debt and others to the extent ofbankruptcy and cost many others jobs, marriages and friendships.

Isgambling a sin?

Theissue of gambling being evil is quite a difficult issue. If bettingis done in moderation and only once in a while, then it can just beclassified as an entertainment or a waste of money to others, but notnecessarily evil. People spend money on all manner of activities anditems. Gambling is no more or less a splurge of money than going outfor a movie, coughing out cash on an extravagantly costly dinner orpurchasing an item you don’t necessarily need. On the other end,wasting money on many different things does not justify gambling.Money should be put into thoughtful and necessary use while savingthe surplus for your future needs, or given for a worthy cause suchas charity, rather than gambling away.

Asthe Bible does not mention gambling explicitly, it does talk about“luck” and “chance.” Casting lots, for example, is used inthe book of Leviticus to choose between the scapegoat and thesacrificial goat. Joshua has to cast lots to determine the allocationof land to the different tribes. Nehemiah also casts lots to decidewho should live inside the walls of Jerusalem. The disciples castlots to determine who will be the replacement of Judas. Proverbs 16:33 says, “Thelot is cast into the lap,butit’s every decision is from the Lord”(NIV).

Whengambling is used as a source of entertainment, and only on occasion,then it is not harmful. The most essential thing should be guardingyourself against wasteful betting and addiction.

Anti-Gambling Sunday is September 21. To download a free bulletin insert go here.

A dear pastor friend of mine who, like me, finds himself of necessity involved in trying to keep casino gambling out of Kentucky asked me to share some biblical reasons why I believe gambling is wrong. I actually wrote most of the following in 2005 and it was published in the Western Recorder. In order that it might contribute to the debate that now consumes our state, as well as inform some of my students who think it an adiapherous avocation, I share it once again with the conviction that a follower of Christ has no business gambling.

Simply put, gambling is sin.

If no passage of Scripture explicitly forbids it, can we with confidence claim that gambling is wrong, a moral evil, sin? With good reason, Christians are hesitant to label sins that the Bible doesn’t mention, yet we often have to distill principles from the Bible that we apply to contemporary situations. Pornography, computer hacking, or cheating on tests aren’t mentioned in the Bible either, yet believers who want to live like Jesus know intuitively and correctly that these behaviors run counter to the will of God. While biblical texts may not mention them explicitly, biblical principles speak to them directly.

In the same way, the ethics of Scripture clearly teach that gambling is wrong and a sin against God, not for one single reason but for many. The slot machine, casino, or poker table are not for believers submitted to the Lordship of Christ.

Scripture On Gambling Kjv

Many Christians object that if they budget a certain amount of their discretionary entertainment funds for gambling and don’t go beyond that, what’s the harm? After all, Christian people waste money on all kinds of diversions. Far from convincing me that gambling is not necessarily wrong, this particular argument actually confirms it in my mind, because it reveals a complete disregard for what one’s participation in gambling does to others. This argument reveals a self-centeredness and lack of concern for weaker brothers and sisters that believers ought to find disturbing (Rom. 14:21). In reality, even Christians who are not personally hurt by it are not free to participate in an industry that preys on the weak and the poor.

Scripture On Gambling Kjv Bible Gateway

The Bible is full of references to God’s view of economics. In the garden of Eden, even before sin entered the world, God established a work ethic by which humanity was to exist (Gen. 1:28-30) Part of God’s creation of man in his own image was that man would work for his food. While God provided it, Adam and Eve had to exercise “dominion” over the plants and animals and till the soil, working for their sustenance. After they sinned, work changed to a more laborious task, but it remained the way God provided for them. In other words, God’s way is that we should earn what we get.

Think about these reasons why gambling violates Christian principles:

  • Working and investing for a living is based on a win/win scenario, but gambling is always win/lose. God put his stamp of approval on commerce and work. When a carpenter builds a cabinet and gets paid, both parties win. One of them gets the cabinets she wanted, and one of them gets the money he desired. They can both feel good about the transaction. Not so with gambling. Someone always loses and pays a price.
  • Gambling is motivated by greed. Let’s be honest and admit that greed lies at the heart of all gambling. The desire to get something for nothing is really another name for covetousness (Exod. 20:17; Prov. 21:25-26).
  • Gambling is a wasteful use of the Lord’s money. I doubt that many Christians who gamble tithe, but even if they do, New Testament Christians understand that God doesn’t have the right to only ten percent of our money, but all of it. Even though I am a tither, I am still required to be a steward of all I have because it belongs to God. I am no freer to gamble with God’s money than I am with anyone else’s. Even though others might waste the Lord’s money on equally frivolous things, their sin doesn’t excuse mine.
Scripture on gambling kjv bible gateway

Scripture On Gambling Kjv King James Version

Gambling shows a lack of love for my neighbor. If I really love my neighbor, I want only what is for his good (Matt. 22:39, 1 Cor. 10:24). When legislators talk about putting casinos on the state line so we can prey on the greed and weakness of our neighbors, they reveal the harmful assault that gambling really is. Can I in good conscience support something that preys on the weaknesses and indulges the worst instincts of the precious people around me?
Gambling fails to consider innocent families. We might be tempted to think that if a person gambles away all of his money, then that is his problem and serves him right. But what of his ten-year-old son who can’t afford school supplies? What of his wife who has to work to pay off the credit cards she didn’t even know she had? What of his ailing parents who cannot count on his help in their senior years? What of his daughter’s college education? Proverbs 15:27 says “A greedy man brings trouble to his family,” and nowhere is that more obvious than in the gambling industry.
Gambling shows no concern for God’s glory. A Jesus-follower should try to glorify God in everything (1 Cor. 10:31), and use his or her money to accomplish good for the kingdom (Matt. 6:19-21, 24).

Scripture On Gambling Kjv Concordance

Gambling is not an act of faith but a game of chance. Paul wrote that “Everything that is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). The Christian life is to be lived in dependence on God to meet all needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19).

Jesus wouldn’t do it. Can you picture Jesus sitting at a slot machine with a cup full of quarters? He was interested in doing his Father’s business, alleviating suffering and grief, not contributing to it.