Gambling and sports betting are becoming more popular in Canada. And many religious people in this situation are increasingly questioning what the scriptures say about this type of entertainment. After all, gambling is very ancient, and it may well have existed at the time of the creation of the Bible. Albeit in a different format.
Gambling is commonly referred to as a risky operation with money, which aims to increase it by chance. The Bible does not deal separately with such phenomena as gambling, lotteries and betting. At the same time, Scripture warns people not to get too attached to money (1 Timothy 6:10; Hebrews 13:5). There is also a rebuke in this book to those who aim at getting rich quickly (Proverbs 13:11; 23:5; Ecclesiastes 5:10). At the same time, no one will deny the fact that gambling embodies the passion for money, seducing weak souls with promises of easy and almost instantaneous increase in capital.
What is wrong with gambling entertainment from a religious point of view? This topic is quite complex. After all, if you do not abuse them, it will be about the usual waste of money, but not a sin. Nowadays, people willingly pay to use hundreds of services provided by the entertainment industry. If you look at the situation from this angle, gambling is no better than going to the movie theatre, pizza parlour, or a soccer game. However, the fact of spending money for other empty purposes cannot be an excuse for gambling. According to the Bible, a person should not waste money under any circumstances, saving it for the future or sacrificing it in the temple.
Mention of gambling in the Bible
In the Holy Scripture, there is no direct mention of gambling, but there are places in the book that speak about putting it on chance. For example, the Levites cast lots to choose an animal for sacrifice. Joshua used the same practices to distribute land among the different tribes of the children of Israel. The lots helped Nehemiah to determine the people who were worthy to live within Jerusalem and those who should be left outside the walls of the city. For the apostles, lots helped them choose a man to replace Judas.
Casinos and lotteries
Casinos and other establishments in this category actively use all kinds of tricks to encourage gamblers to spend large sums of money. Customers are given free or cheap booze to get them intoxicated and lose the ability to think critically. Everything in the casino is aimed at collecting as much money as possible from the visitors and providing nothing in return. The only reward for players is empty pleasure and entertaining leisure time.
From the mouths of lottery organizers, you can often hear speeches that they send part of the earned money to finance social projects and educational programs, as well as the development of sports. However, the statistics reveal another truth: the lotteries are mainly attended by the poor, who spend almost the last of their money to buy the coveted ticket. The temptation to get rich quickly is extremely attractive for those who are in a poor financial situation. Since the chances of winning big are almost non-existent, this situation only aggravates the situation of many desperate people.
Why lotteries cannot be pleasing to God
There are many people who justify their passion for gambling and lotteries with the desire to earn money that can be spent on a good cause. There is nothing wrong with such motivation, but in practice, rarely do any of the players transfer funds to the Church or do charity. Most of the lucky players who manage to win the jackpot sink to the financial bottom after only a few years. As a result, they find themselves in an even worse position than they were when they won. Only a tiny fraction of people actually spend the money earned in casinos or lotteries for charity.
Anyone who makes excuses for themselves should remember that God does not need our money to fulfil His mission in the world. Proverbs 13:11 says that vanity depletes wealth, but it is only multiplied by labour. God is omnipotent, so he is quite capable of providing for the needs of the Church in an honest way. Under no circumstances can God be pleased with money that someone has earned by selling drugs or by robbing a bank.
1 Timothy 6:10 says that covetousness is the root of all evil. Those who give themselves over to it will stray from the faith and bring tribulation upon themselves. Hebrews 13:5 urges believers to be content with what they already have, not to strive for riches. It is also worth remembering the quote from Matthew 6:24, which talks about the inadmissibility of serving two masters because a person will still try only for one (God or mammon).
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