By: Elder Bill McCarthy
I once had a friend who believed that there is no such thing as luck, and anytime someone would say ‘good luck’ in his presence, he would quickly point out that there was no such thing. People who share that belief are evidently rare, as many people believe in luck and in their ability to induce it to their good fortune.
Exhibit one in evidence to support this is the explosive growth of legalized gambling facilities and the wide spread acceptance everywhere of gambling in today’s society, and especially right here in our State. Once frowned on by serious minded upright people, and engaged in by less than respectful folks of shadowy backgrounds, gambling now enjoys full blown legitimacy and societal acceptance as a multi-billion dollar industry. For over two hundred years in the history of this nation legalized gambling was largely confined to then unsavory places like Las Vegas and Atlantic City, but today gambling casinos can be found all around us. I dare say that most of us need travel but a few miles to visit a casino that is brightly lighted and no longer concerned about being raided by local authorities.
Those of us over forty years of age or so grew up in a “Christian” nation, and gambling was not much of a factor, if at all, in our lives, except perhaps for friendly bingo games or an occasional raffle ticket. Today, the States not only sanction gambling but actively participate in it. Nearly all of the States have some form of legalized gambling, and in State lotteries and power ball activities, they are reaping what is being sown as gambling addiction and gambling induced crimes grow at alarming rates.
You can research this for yourself, and I assure you that you will be alarmed at what legalized gambling – not to mention illegal gambling – does to the fabric of society. I recite here but a few of the findings of studies on the effects of legalized gambling:
- the number of compulsive gamblers increases several fold when gambling is brought into an area;
- a majority of compulsive gamblers turn to crime to finance their addiction;
- the crime rate in gambling communities exceeds the national average;
- the poor who gamble lose the greatest share of their income to gambling;
- gambling creates no new wealth;
- it depresses and siphons funds from legitimate businesses;
- it increases welfare costs; and
- like alcohol and drugs, it weakens family life.
In this setting, what should the attitude of a disciple of Christ be to gambling? What does the Bible say about gambling? I believe we have a Christian duty to answer these biblically. That is, we should be ready to answer when asked what the Bible teaches about gambling.
Gambling, aka ‘gaming’ in today’s political correct sensitivity, involves an agreement between wagering participants to surrender something of value to the one who successfully predicts the outcome of an uncertain event, with the winner receiving the wagered valuable from the loser. Gambling is based on the desire to receive something of value that is owned by another or is within the power of another to provide. Thus, gambling involves coveting something belonging to another.
Does the Bible prohibit gambling?
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.” Tenth commandment, Ex. 20:17. “Thou shalt not … covet.” Rom 13:9.
It would be sufficient to rest the case against gambling on these verses alone, but there is support throughout the Scriptures against involvement in gambling. Christ teaches us to focus on loving others, not coveting their belongings, while gambling, based on covetousness, tempts people with the promise of quick and easy riches. The following are but a few of the massive numbers of Biblical admonitions against such.
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” 1 Timothy 6:10.
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have.” Hebrews 13:5.
“Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.” Proverbs 13:11.
“Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.” Proverbs 23:5.
“He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.” Ecclesiastes 5:10.
While the word ‘luck’ – the chance happening of fortunate or adverse events – does not appear in Scripture, its essence can be found. According to Solomon, “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance [to wit, ‘luck’] happeneth to them all.” Ecclesiastes 9:11. Solomon is speaking to the world of mankind, and is stating that life is at the mercies of “time and chance.”
But Christians, who seek to follow righteousness, do not live under the uncertainty of “time and chance”; rather, they are the beneficiaries of the promises and providence of God as their guide and stay. Matthew 6:31-34 provides the following words of Christ:
“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
“(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
These passages of Matthew do not support slothfulness or lethargy; rather they are passages that attend to the heart and mind of the Christian, as many other scripture passages teach a mindset of industriousness (1 Thess. 4:11-12; Eph. 4:28). It is the “seek-ye-first” priority to the kingdom of God that is taught here in Matthew.
The apostle Paul’s admonition to the church at Ephesus bears directly on this,
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love … let not [covetousness] be named among you, as becometh saints; … for this ye know, that no … covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” Eph 5:1-5.
As gambling cannot be separated from covetousness, it is clear that disciples of Christ should avoid covetousness and become spokespersons against gambling as an acceptable norm in our society. □
Published: 2011-04-10 by BDM