Is Gambling Alright?
I have been mulling this gambling deal over and I have come up with a
few verses that seemed to "speak" to me regarding this issue. Now, mind
you, these verses do not necessarily specifically address the issue as
"thou shat not gamble," but I do see some principles of contentedness,
of the value of work, of greed, stewardship, discipline, worldliness,
etc., so I acknowledge, these may seem/be "out of context."
I think what I am concerned with on the gambling issue is the "why?"
of the activity.
Why chance away what God has provided (either through work or gift) when
there is no 'guarantee' of gain. We are certainly to be good stewards of
what He has provided---and so we must each ask 'Am I doing the best with
what God has given me?" This actually pertains to much more than
money... gambling (to me) demonstrates a tremendous *lack* of faith and
a spirit of discontent with what God has provided.
Luke 12.34 For where your treasure is, there will your
heart be also.
Luke 12.18-21
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my
barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my
goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for
many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be
required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast
provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward
God.
Matthew 6.25
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your
life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body,
what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than
raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap,
nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.
Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto
his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the
field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not
arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is,
and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you,
O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall
we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly
Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all
these things shall be added unto you.
1 John 2.16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the
flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the
Father, but is of the world.
Luke 3.14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him,
saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no
man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
Luke 10. 7 And in the same house remain, eating and
drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his
hire. Go not from house to house.
Proverbs 16.8 Better is a little with righteousness than
great revenues without right.
Proverbs 30.8-9
8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither
poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be
poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
Ecclesiastes 2.24 There is nothing better for a man, than
that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy
good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
Ecclesiastes 5.12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet,
whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not
suffer him to sleep.
Luke 16.11-13
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the
unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who
shall give you that which is your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one,
and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
1 Corinthians 4.1-2
1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of
Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
Galatians 6.7-8
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a
man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;
but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life
everlasting.
Colossians 2.8 Beware lest any man spoil you
through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after
the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Proverbs 28. 8 He that by usury and unjust gain
increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the
poor.
Luke 6.34-35
34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive,
what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much
again.
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing
again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of
the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
pamela spurling
http://www.achristianhome.com