"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3: 20

Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch + Archdiocese of the Western USA

Gambling

Is Gambling just fun, or is it a sin?

Many people feel gambling is only a game that is fun, but the Bible tells us this evil is a terrible sin that will lead to poverty.

(Proverbs 28:22)..."He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him".
(Proverbs 22:16)..."He who oppresses the poor to get gain for himself, and he who gives to the rich will surely come to want".

Gambling in our nation is spreading like a plague. The number of states operating lotteries has more than doubled since 1980, making them the ultimate "get-rich-quick" schemes. As gambling spreads to more and more states, Christians need to have the Bible's instruction about this money robber. The Bible declares that it is wrong to bet money on the possibility of becoming instantly rich.

States who legalize lotteries and gambling are oppressing the poor for gain. According to a 1988 study of the Michigan lottery, that state sells the greatest number of tickets in low-income and ethnic neighborhoods in urban areas. Lottery tickets made available in grocery marts and drive-in markets make it easy for people to purchase these "chances to win big." -or- buy enough scratch off tickets and win more than you spent, and when they don't win or win little, they will often spend there last dollar just trying to get even. Some spend money on the lottery tickets instead of groceries for their families. Many compulsive gamblers wreck their lives and their families as they are encouraged to risk money that they usually cannot afford to lose. An estimated 15 million people are compulsive gamblers.

Casinos rob those who play the games with them as the odds are stacked 80% to 90% in favor of the casino. Even those that do win big on occasion statistics have proven that within two years "most" winners have totally spent the money they won.

Proverbs 21:20 says, "There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up."

Christians are guilty of supporting lotteries, bingo, horse racing, and even playing at the casinos. Video poker has become so popular it is now referred to as "the crack cocaine of gambling." Some do not realize the gravity of their sin. They justify gambling simply because they have needs that cannot be met through their present earned income.

The Lord desires to meet those needs for them and will give them a plan for becoming debt free if they seek him and His economic principles in the Bible.

The Lord can bring deliverance to those caught in this web of compulsive gambling. Through admission of this sin and repentance. God will break the bondage of it in those who desire to be set free. Gamblers need love and acceptance but they must repent in order to be free. The Lord loves those who are addicted to gambling and will help all that call upon Him for deliverance.

Get-rich-quick schemes are a hoax,
and what God's word has to say about it

They bring poverty, not wealth.
Prov 28:22 (cp. Prov 22:16)
"He that hastens to be rich hath an evil eye, and considers not
that poverty shall come upon him."

The divinely established means of "getting ahead"
is by work.

Gen 2:15; 3:19
Exo 20:9
2 Thes 3:10, 11
Eph 4:28
Prov 6:6; 12:11; 20:4

The greed (covetousness) that motivates individuals to gamble is sin.

Ex 20:17
Prov 11:28; 15:16; 23:4-5
Gal 5:21
Eph 5:3-5
Phil 4:11-13
Col 3:5
1 Tim 6:6-11, 17-19

Gambling is destructive, and Spiritually affects our walk with God.

It indicates a lack of trust in God's ability to provide.

Mat 6:25-34
Luke 12:15
Heb 13:5
1 Tim 6:6-9

True riches are spiritual and eternal.

Phil 4:19 "riches in glory in Christ"
Jas 2:5 "rich in faith"
1 Tim 6:18 "rich in good deeds"
Eph 2:4 "rich in mercy"

We should look to God as our Source of supply:

Phil 4:19
Eph 3:20

Gambling expressly denies God's sovereignty and care.

Mat 10:30
Prov 3:5-6)

A form of covetousness, gambling violates the tenth commandment.

Exo 20:17

Christians are called to a walk of holiness
(separation from the world).

Eph 5:3 1 Thes 5:22

Gambling destroys contentment.

I Tim. 6:6, 10
Col. 3:2
Jn 6:27
Matt. 16:26

Societally. Gambling destroys families and communities.

1. Gambling robs money from the family, for which parents have a
responsibility to provide.

2 Cor 12:14
2 Thes 3:12
1 Tim 5:9
Prov 15:27

2. Gambling distorts our love for our neighbor, exploiting the most
vulnerable members of society: the poor.

Phil 2:3-4
Zech 7:9-10

3. Gambling is a bad example to others.

1 Corin 10:31-33

4. Gambling encourages stealing, which increases court costs;
stresses out marital relationships by burdening finances
("He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house..." Prov 15:27);
and forces reliance upon public assistance, bankruptcy, etc.

Personally. Gambling is self-destructive.

1. Gambling destroys our work ethic.

Gen 2:15; 3:19 Exo 20:9 2 Thes 3:10, 11 Eph 4:28 Prov 6:6; 12:11; 20:4

2. Gambling is rooted in greed, the love and craving for money,
which is "the root of all evil."

Mat 6:31
1 Tim 6:10

3. Gambling is addicting. God wants us to be free!

Rom 8:21
2 Corin 3:17
Gal 5:1, 13
1 Pet 2:16
2 Pet 2:19

Here is an example of gambling, as found in John 19:23-24. Here, the
soldiers who crucified Jesus divided his garments into four parts,
one part for each soldier. But since Jesus' tunic was seamless, they
gambled for it by casting lots. From this example, we see some of the
common sins involved in gambling such as greed and covetousness.

A article written for Christianity Today by Tim Stafford had this to say:

Not long ago, gambling was illegal almost everywhere. In those days,
America sent gamblers into the desert to pursue their dissolution.
Las Vegas "Sin City" existed like a disease under quarantine, separated
from the commonwealth by hundreds of miles of arid wilderness. If you
went to Las Vegas, you didn't tell your mother; you didn't take the
kids.

Now however, Vegas has come near to us all. You can legally gamble in
48 states of the Union. Gambling has become normal, like the sale of
beer at Safeway. Casinos offer childcare.

At least 12 million Americans are compulsive gamblers...says
"Gamblers Anonymous".

One in 4 American men and 1 in 8 women plan to gamble in the next Super
Bowl. (Gallup poll, "Psychology Today")

Two-thirds of Americans have gambled, and 80% approve of gambling as
a means of collecting taxes. (Report by the Federal Commission on the
Review of the National Policy Toward Gambling)

The average compulsive gambler has debts exceeding $80,000
(Dallas Morning News, 1/4/84)

"To gamble is to take a calculated risk for monetary or personal gain."
(Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling).

Gambling exploits the poor, as "the poor bet a much larger share of
their income." (National Bureau of Economic Research)

Thirty to 50 percent of money collected by casinos annually comes from
about 4 percent of the population.

Legalized gambling increases illegal gambling by 300 percent.
(Organized Crime Section of the Department of Justice)

"Winning money is the most important reason why people say they visit
a casino." (Survey in American Demographics, May 1997)

"Participation rates increase steadily and sharply as the number of
legal types of gambling increases. Social betting more than doubles
from 35% in states with no legal games to 72% in states with three
legal types; the illegal gambling rate more than doubles from nine
percent to 22%; and commercial gambling increases by 43%, from 24 to 67
percent." (The Final Report of the Commission on the Review of National
Policy Toward Gambling, 1976)

Getting killed by lightning is seven times more likely than winning a
million dollars in a state lottery. (Harper's, July 1983)

Only 40 cents of every lottery dollar goes to the state budget. Direct
taxation costs only 1 cent on the dollar.

Crime rates for counties with casinos are 8% higher than the crime
rates of counties without casinos. (Las Vegas Sun, 6/17/99)

Crime within 30 miles of Atlantic City rose by 107% in the nine years
following the introduction of casinos to the area. (Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Aug. 1991)

The rate of compulsive gambling among teens is growing at twice the
rate of that of adults. (Dr. Howard J. Shaffer, Director of the
Harvard Medical School Center for Addiction Studies)

Crime rates in casino communities are 84% higher than the national
average. (U.S. News & World Report, 1/15/96)