The Bible does not specifically identify gambling as a sin but rather offers a number of warnings about the dangers of money, specifically. 1Timothy 6:10 which teaches that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”. Gambling is contrary to biblical warnings against greed or avarice. Let not him that gamble judge him that gamble not and vice versa, i have yet to see in the bible that gambling is a sin. Lack of temperance which is no self control is the sin here. This can happen to anyone in anything not just gambling. So men’s opinion is just what it is an opinion.
To learn Biblical answers to your financial questions, you can #AskChuck @AskCrown your questions by clicking here. Questions used may be lightly edited for length or clarity.
Dear Chuck,
What is your take on 'investing' in money market funds? Is this not a different way of gambling which is forbidden by the Bible? I will love to see your take on this.
Curious.
While the word gambling does not appear in the Bible, it is important to note that at the root of gambling is an excessive desire for money and material possessions, which the Bible does indeed warn against.
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Dear Curious,
I have no problems with money market funds or other legitimate means of investing. Your question, one that I frequently receive, is to understand the difference between gambling and investing.
The difference between these two is vast but can be confusing, especially for those who don't regularly engage in either, because there is risk in both.
At the heart of it, gambling is based upon chance, and all must lose for one to gain. But investing is based upon knowledge and all have the opportunity to win. Both involve risk, but only investing allows equal opportunity for all to benefit.
For instance, if you buy stock in a company that makes a good product, the customers who buy the products win if the product is beneficial to them. The company that sells the products wins as their profitability increases, and you as an owner of the company win as the value of the company increases. The risk you take is based upon the performance of the company, and you can use knowledge to decrease your risk.
And investing also provides an opportunity to contribute to a larger good — an enterprise that can benefit many, while games of chance are a pastime that contributes nothing. No product is created and no real investment in the economy necessarily occurs. Gambling does not create a growing enterprise that can provide value; it consumes resources in a moment in time, and it too often snares the hearts of men and women in an addiction that robs them of their resources.
Gambling also relies on something I don't believe in … 'luck.' You will never hear me say 'Good luck.' As Christians, we rely on the blessings of God and are instructed to study, to work and to seek wisdom to accomplish the goals we have.
Proverbs 24:3-4 puts it like this, 'By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.'
Random chance is not the source of a life well lived, but rather, wisdom, knowledge and hard work that result from trusting in God and His principles.
Our goal should be to seek understanding of the world around us and make increasingly informed decisions that profit a family, a business and a community. Successful investors learn about the markets they are involved in, making informed choices. Over time, the reward that comes from those efforts becomes a blessing to many.
Frenzied efforts to get money, gambling among them, usually do not pay off; anxiety and stress can be a sign that something is wrong.
'Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens' (Proverbs 23:4-5).
You can check out these guidelines from Crown that investors can consider as they look at markets. But one of the most important things to keep in mind when investing is never to invest more than you can afford to lose, because there is risk in this world, and you should only use resources after budgeting for all your other needs and expenses.
I Timothy 6:9-10 notes, '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.'
This is a clear warning not to place our trust in money, even money earned through investing, or it will lead to our demise.
It's not money itself that is the problem. It is the LOVE of money that traps many, distracting them from God's plans for their lives. We often lose sight of the motives of our own actions, even as Christians, and need to step back and reflect on what is in our hearts.
Try this free assessment to shed light on how your beliefs line up with your behavior and help you to evaluate your own motives.
To #Ask Chuck @AskCrown your own question, click here:
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Gambling Biblical
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Chuck Bentley is the CEO of Crown, the largest Christian financial ministry in the world, founded by the late, Larry Burkett. He is an author, host of My MoneyLife- a daily radio feature and a frequent speaker on the topic of Biblical financial principles. Follow him on Twitter @chuckbentley and visit Crown.org for more help.
Gambling Is Not Biblical Wisdom
Gambling is one of America’s favorite pastimes, at least when those activities are measured by revenue. The billions of dollars spent by gamblers far exceeds the billions paid for movie tickets, music recordings and the sales of the top fast-food chains from McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s and Starbucks combined. Americans gamble freely. Many gamblers don’t think gambling is morally wrong. Is it appropriate for Christians to gamble according to God? We can turn to the Bible for our answers.
Believers in Christ should not take part in gambling – it breaks several biblical principles which are central to a Christian’s way of life. A Christian lifestyle is one that expresses faith in loving care and provision of Almighty God, not in chance or luck. The Bible tells us, “But seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). Our call as Christians is to love thy neighbor, not to profit a loss by someone else. Our call as Christians is also to avoid every form of greed and covetousness and to be content what we have. The Bible also says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” As Christians, we are to realize that everything we possess has been given in stewardship by God and should only be used in a way that honors God.
It’s important to make distinctions between what gambling is and what it isn’t. “Signing up” or registering for a free gift is not gambling. This simply puts a person in a position to receive something that is to be given away, and this is the donor’s way of selecting the recipient. However, in the case of gambling, a person is taking chances with hard-earned money.
Gambling also has major side effects which can aid in separation from God. Gambling can destroy lives in many countless ways. Gambling addictions are becoming more and more commonplace nowadays. With mega-gambling casinos throughout the world, the popularity of online gambling and poker playing, gambling problems have become a major addiction of this era. Gambling addictions and gambling addiction problems are severe addictions that have many consequences for the life of a gambler and his or her family. A gamblers addiction can progress rapidly, resulting in emotional, financial and social devastation in ways that can be considered irreparable. A person who struggles with gambling addiction should seek help immediately.
The gambling industry is also immoral. The gambling industry refers to organizations that sponsor and benefit from gambling. Those that sponsor gambling include casinos, lotteries, bingo parlors and other places where gambling is permitted. What is wrong with running such institutions and what is wrong with benefiting from gambling? Often, we are told that gambling is good because it raises money for good social causes. Because the excess money from state lotteries supports the state education system, some say that gambling is an investment in our children. Because the casinos are often willing to a pay a percentage of their earnings in local communities, which use the funds to fight crime, some argue that gambling is good because it makes a positive contribution to society and even lowers taxes. In other words, the end justifies the means and the motive excuses the act. But the true is, gambling is morally wrong.
Gambling Is Not Biblical Study
The first reason it’s wrong is because it is motivated by greed. The goal of gambling institutions is to get lots of money quickly and they accomplish their goal well; gambling is a lucrative business. Notice that the goal of the gambling industry is not merely to get money; any businessman has that goal. Because he needs money to live. But the goal of the gambling industry is to get lots of money quickly, without providing a beneficial service or a sound product in return. It manifest covetousness, which God’s law forbids (Exodus 20:17), and the love of money, against which God’s Word also warns us. The Bible tells us, “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” (1 Timothy 6:10).
Ultimately, compulsive gambling is a sin. Few sincere, Bible-believing Christians would disagree with this. That is, gambling is sinful for those who are addicted to it. You are putting the love, desire and thrill of making big money over God which is idolatry.
Compulsive gamblers sin by wasting time. Gambling is for them such an addiction, that most or all of their spare time is spent gambling in one form or another. Weekends and vacations are taken up with trips to cities that have casinos. The more addicted to gambling a person becomes, the more likely he or she is to neglect their job and family and to focus exclusively on gambling. They also sin by wasting money and possessions. Any money on hand they will use in gambling. They will sell or pawn off their belongings to get more money with which to gamble. And when their resources are gone, they are likely to swindle or steal to get money.
Money and possessions are gifts from God that are to be used in His service. The eighth commandment, “Thou shalt not steal,” reminds us that God gives humans enough resources to live on, in order to accomplish His purpose for us on earth. It is our call and duty as Christians to use those resources wisely, and not desire what is another’s.
Lesli White