not sinful
By BRANDON A. PERRY
Although it is difficult to find references to gambling in biblical texts, many Christians view it as a sinful vice along with drug abuse, prostitution and excessive use of alcohol.
Many well-meaning people of faith believe that their religion encourages them to condemn people who gamble as serious sinners who need serious help.
For generations gambling practices such as going to traditional casinos, riverboat casinos, playing the lottery, throwing dice, betting on sports games and visiting pea-shake houses have been controversial.
As it relates to the Christian faith specifically, gambling was never actually classified as sin by Christ or his followers. What they did discourage was the worship of money.
In Timothy 6:10 the Apostle Paul warns the young minister Timothy that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”
Gambling, unless it is done in an illegal form, doesn’t become a problem unless it replaces worshipping God as the most important activity in your life. Gambling doesn’t cross the threshold of sin until you begin to love money more than God and gambling becomes not just an occasional thrill, but a compulsive habit.
If you’re taking money that should be used for family expenses or tithing for the Kingdom and making it dissipate in casinos you’re on the wrong path. If you can’t make Sunday service because you’ve been up all night on the boat then something’s wrong.
Your priorities are messed up if you’re more obsessed with finding more money to lose gambling than achieving positive goals.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 tells us that always chasing the next dollar instead of searching for the heart of God can lead us to spiritual, emotional and mental bankruptcy.
“Whoever loves money never has money enough, whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his increase,” the verse states.
In Matthew 6:24 Jesus himself reminds us that replacing God with the idol of money (through constant gambling) can lead to spiritual and financial instability.
“No one can serve two masters,” Jesus said. “Either he will hate the one and love other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
I have not found any specific reference in the Bible of God condemning someone for occasional gambling. At the same time however, it is clear that he does not want us to become punks or slaves to compulsive gambling.
If you can enjoy gambling without becoming addicted or breaking the law then by all means have fun. Go on up to the riverboat in Gary or down to the casino in Evansville. Just remember to get enough rest to worship at Sunday service and don’t be stingy with your increase when that offering plate is passed around: God’s blessings, even if they’re received at the casino table, are not just for you alone.
