What is wrong with Gambling?
Copyright
© 2008, by David A. Duncan
Definition
The
dictionary defines gambling as "to play a game of chance for money or
other stakes, to wager money or other stakes on uncertain outcome, to expose
something of value to risk or hazard in the advantage of gain." A
simple definition of gambling would be: desiring the possession (prize) of
another, the gambler creates a risk (that of losing his own possession) in an
attempt through chance to gain the possession of another with nothing given in
exchange. It is a greedy desire to have what belongs to another (i.e.
covetousness).
What About 3-Coin, etc.
Gambling
takes many forms: card games, dice, numbers, betting on elections or sporting
events, buying sweepstakes tickets, lotteries, playing slot machines, punch
boards, bingo (for money or prizes), raffle tickets, matching for cokes, or
even pitching for pennies. Also, whether you are gambling or not does not
depend upon the amount you are risking. It may be $5,000 or $5, it may be 50
cents or 1 cent, the principle is the same - only the amount differs.
Biblical Principles
Jesus
said a tree is known by its fruits (Matthew 7:15). What are the fruits of
gambling? Its fruits are corrupt (selfishness, covetousness, greed, etc.).
Gambling conflicts with Bible Principles in these areas:
1)
Covetousness – the basic principle of
gambling is to gain the posession of another through chance – and hence those
who gamble necessarily covet (covet = excessively and culpably desirous of the
possessions of another -
note: when desire goes so far as to attempt to gain the possessions of another
without recompense he is culpable; culpable = deserving condemnation or blame
as wrong or harmful.).
Regardless of what the expressed motive is (e.g. I’m just doing it for the
thrill of it, I’m just doing it for entertainment,etc.), the intent is
unchanged. If there is no reward, no one would be involved in the game of
chance.
It defiles a man
Mark 7:22-23 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit,
lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: {23} All these
evil things come from within, and defile the man.
It distorts a man’s perspective
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of
covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the
things which he possesseth.
It violates the principle of love toward our neighbor
Romans
13:9-10 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou
shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and
if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying,
namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. {10} Love worketh no
ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
2)
Greed - An excessive desire to acquire or
possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially with respect to
material wealth.
Getting something for nothing is “more than one deserves”. When is a desire “excessive”? – when one is
consumed with thoughts of how to obtain or acts on the desire and actually
seeks to obtain another’s possessions through chance it is excessive. Greed and Covetousness are often linked and
both are forms of “wickedness”:
Romans 1:29 They have become filled with every kind of
wickedness, evil, greed
and depravity.
3)
Earning a living through righteous means (a
result of legitimate labor),
Eph 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him
labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to
give to him that needeth.
2 Thess 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded
you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
4)
Loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew
22:37-39; 7:12), The essence of gambling is to obtain what belongs to another
without recompense through chance. At
the core is being concerned with self over others and without concern for
others.
Matt 22:37-39 Jesus
said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind.{38} This is the first and great
commandment. {39} And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself.
5)
Showing a Christ-like example (Romans
12:17),
Ro 12:17 Recompense to
no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
6)
Shunning evil (Romans 12:9; 1 Thessalonians
5:22),
The attitude we should have toward evil is not to see how
close we can get to it, but to “abhor” it (To regard with horror or loathing;
detest)
Ro 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which
is evil; cleave to that which is good.
1Th 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Some Social Ills that typically accompany gambling:
Be
careful here. These things are not what
make it sin. For example, if we call it
sin because the family needs are neglected, then the wealthy can successfully
argue that as long as their habit does no harm to the family – it is not
wrong. The following are typical results
(i.e. the fruit of the sin):
1) Family
needs are neglected. Funds that could benefit the family are diverted.
Rather than selfish pleasure (gambling), parents should be caring for family
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their
wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Gambling diverts revenue from the
home. Note that even
"entertainment", if it becomes a detriment to the home is wrong. 1Ti
5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own
house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
2) Addiction:
leading to Stealing, drugs, prostitution (to fund gambling habit)
Statistics show that at least two-thirds of compulsive
gamblers engage in criminal activity to finance their addiction, including
check forgery, tax evasion, embezzlement, bookmaking, prostitution, selling
drugs, and fencing stolen goods.
Compulsive gamblers commit as much as 40 percent of all
white-collar crime, according to estimates by the American Insurance Institute.
But what if I do it for the thrill of it, and it does not affect my family?
Principles
of covetousness, loving your neighbor, shunning evil, being Christ-Like, etc.
still apply. Covetousness, greed, etc.
is always wrong, whether it affects the family or not. Recognize the dangers of
addiction and avoid these (shun evil), cleave to that which is good (Romans 12:9)
No One is harmed – each player does so voluntarily
Some
will argue that no harm is done since each player involves himself
voluntarily. When you seek another’s
possessions without just recompense, it is still covetousness – whether the
other party volunteers to be a part of it or not. As an example, consider taking a man’s
garment as a pledge of payment (under the Old Covenant). This was considered a form of oppression
(even though it was obtained with the other’s consent):
Ex
22:26-27 If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt
deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down: {27} For that is his covering
only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come
to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
To make loans with interest rates which were considered
oppressive was still wrong – even if they were obtained with the borrower’s
permission:
Ex 22:25 If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by
thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him
usury.
Gambling losses weigh the most on the poor – and these are the
very ones who are most involved. This is
a form of oppression (oppress: v. 1. To keep down by severe and unjust use of
force or authority 2. To weigh heavily
on)
Some Godly Principles from the Old Testament:
Oppression was condemned
Le 25:17 Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou
shalt fear thy God: for I [am] the LORD your God.
Oppression: Taking what is not
rightfully yours either by work or compensation
Job 20:19 Because he hath oppressed [and] hath forsaken the
poor; [because] he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;
{oppressed: Heb. crushed}
He who oppresses, reproaches God
Pr 14:31 ¶ He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker:
but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
Desire long life – avoid covetousness
and oppression
Pr 28:16 ¶ The prince that wanteth understanding [is] also a
great oppressor: [but] he that hateth covetousness shall prolong [his] days.
Conclusion:
Gambling
is wrong from an application of Christian principles. The fruit of Gambling
produces many forms of evil. Christians
should avoid it.