Hey guys!
Today is another video request, and the question is this, "Is gambling a sin according to the Bible?"
Now, this question might be a surprise to many people out there,
because today gambling is widely accepted in most countries around the globe.
And very few know that gambling can be very dangerous.
According to Scientific America, two million people in the US are addicted to gambling,
and for around 20 million people gambling is a serious problem that interferes with work and social life.
But the question is, "What does God say about gambling?"
That's what we're going to look at in this video.
Let's jump right into it.
Now, just very quick;
If it's the first time that you're here on my channel, I'm Daniel Maritz, and welcome to DLM Christian Lifestyle.
if you haven't subscribed yet, if you want a good channel to follow for Biblical preaching,
then please subscribe, and also click that notification bell,
so you won't miss any of the future videos.
Now, what does the Bible say about gambling?
Is it a sin?
Well, if you study the whole Bible, it doesn't specifically say that gambling is a sin.
We are going to look at a few different Bible verses, but it does depend on the intention behind it.
First, the Bible warns us against the love of money.
1 Timothy 6:7-11 says,
“For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world,
but if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content."
Now, listen carefully.
"But those who desire to be rich, fall into temptation into a snare,
into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction."
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils,
it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith,
and pierced themselves with many pangs."
"But as for you o man of God, flee these things pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love,
steadfastness, and then the last one there, gentleness."
So, if you gamble to make more money because you're greedy. Then, yeah, it's wrong. It's a sin.
Be very careful to run after money in this world to spend on your own fleshly desires,
to live in luxury, to be selfish.
It's wrong to be greedy, and it's not just wrong when it comes to gambling.
There are a lot of people out there who say, 'Yes, it's wrong to gamble',
very righteous, but then those same people are very greedy.
Some of them might even steal, and you know,
give and take a little bit of money under the table at their work just to get ahead, to make more money.
Hebrews 13:5 says,
"Keep your life free from love of money,
and be content with what you have, for He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you."
You see, there's a very big problem when you start to rely on and trust money, over-trusting God
who gives you your money in the first place because everything we have, comes from God.
It's wrong to gamble hoping to score big instead of trusting and praying to God
who will supply all your needs.
And Paul knew this, and that's why he wrote to the Philippians saying,
'And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory, in Christ Jesus in Philippians 4:19.
Now, there are also different forms of gambling,
for example, those that are based on luck and others based on skill.
Now, I personally will stay away from any form of luck because I don't rely on luck in my life.
I rely on God Himself.
Don't try to get rich quick by relying on luck, instead work hard to earn your money the right way.
Proverbs 13:11 says,
"Wealth gained hastily will dwindle but whoever gathers, little by little will increase it."
Now, we do read of some form of gambling, specifically the casting of lots,
there are a few places, a few examples in the Bible, but one of them in the New Testament is the apostles,
who needed to choose a replacement for Judas, but they did it with prayer.
Acts 1:21, "Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us
the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us,
beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us.
For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.
So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barcelos (also known as Justus) and Matthias.
Then they prayed, 'Lord, You know everyone's heart.
Show us which of these two You have chosen to take over his apostolic ministry,
which Judas left to go where he belongs.' Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias;
so he was added to the 11 apostles.
Now, take notice here. They did not gamble for money.
So why did they do it?
Because they knew that God would determine the outcome, just like Proverbs says.
Proverbs 16:33 says, "The lot is cast into their lap, but it's every decision is from God."
Now, there are also other examples in the Bible of casting lots.
Like Joshua, who did it to determine the allotment of land to the tribes of Israel in Joshua 18:10.
Then there's also Nehemiah,
who did it to determine who would live inside the walls of Jerusalem in Nehemiah 11:1.
And you know we do it today.
We draw straws when we're in a competition and you want to see who's going to go first.
Or when you're a smaller group, you play rock paper scissors, right, and there's nothing wrong with it.
But when you gamble for money because you're lazy, or you're addicted, or you want to get rich quick.
Then, yes, that's wrong.
Now, in the Old Testament, we also see that God warned people against worshipping,
or praying, to bringing sacrifices to the god of fortune.
Back then, some of the different civilizations worshiped different gods.
Isaiah 65:11 says, "But you forsake the Lord,
who forget My Holy mountain, who set a table for fortune and full cups of mixed wine for destiny."
Now, back then, they used tables to put their sacrifices or their offerings on,
to offer to these different gods.
But we know that these gods are in reality demons.
1 Corinthians 10:20-21 says, "No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not God.
I do not want you to be participants with demons.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons."
You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons."
Now, with that being said, if you play for money based on your skills and...
That's different.
And it's fine to just have fun.
For example, if you go fishing and you have experience, you fished for a while.
And you go with your friends and all of you decide,
'All right, let's put some money on this to see who's going to catch the most fish,
and the guy who wins, he's gonna get the whole pot.
So each of you put 10 bucks into the pot, and the winner gets it all.
That's fine. That's fun. There's nothing wrong with that.
So, look, in the end, God wants you to work hard to earn your money.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 -12 says, "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.
Now, such person, we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ
to do their work quietly and to earn their own living."
You know, there are people out there, that would rather go and sit and gamble the whole day away,
instead of working hard to provide for their family
God is against laziness.
Proverbs 13:4 says,
"The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied."
And Proverbs 19:15 says, "Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep and an idle person will suffer hunger."
So, let us not be lazy and let us not complain.
You know, there are so many Christians out there who complain all the time about working hard.
No, let us not complain. Let us not be lazy and let us do everything as for God and not for men.
Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.
You are serving the Lord Christ."
Another thing you can do with your time is not to just sit and waste it, but to grow spiritually,
to study God's Word, to learn more about God, and to become stronger in Him.
If you want to do it.
If you want to learn more, then please watch one of these playlists here and it's going to help you out.
And always remember, God loves you, and I love you too.
Bye.