God’s Attitude Toward Gambling 

A careful reading of Scripture makes it clear there are numerous biblical principles which indicate gambling is an evil to be avoided. When people recognize God’s authority they will honor the principles which indicate gambling is evil.

1. Gambling is wrong because it is a disregard of responsible stewardship.

The Bible clearly teaches that all things belong to God. “The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1).

Since all things belong to God, people are placed in the position of stewards who must give a proper accounting for everything given to them in trust.

The first step in a faithful administration of this stewardship is the giving of self to God. Believers must recognize they are not their own (1 Corinthians 6:19). They have been bought with a price, not of silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Jesus (1 Peter 1:18,19). The churches of Macedonia set a prime example of personal dedication when they “ first gave their own selves to the Lord,” (2 Corinthians 8:5). Life, with all it involves, is a stewardship to be administered for the glory of God.

People who honestly dedicate themselves to God will also recognize that all they possess must be handled as a stewardship. The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14­30) indicates that the good and faithful servants administered the talents entrusted to them in such a way that the master was pleased. The wicked and slothful servant failed in his administration and suffered the appropriate consequences.  Notice that none of them "gambled" with the money.  There is a vast difference between gambling and investing!

When people recognize their stewardship responsibilities they will not consider gambling in any form a proper administration of divinely bestowed resources, time, and ability. Even the ethics of the world will not tolerate those who gamble with resources put in their trust!  Try using your companies assets to gamble with.  When you're caught, try explaining that you were only trying to "increase" their coiffeurs.

Christian responsibility transcends all other responsibility, and for the Christian, gambling is wrong. It is a total disregard of the principle of stewardship. It is a prostitution of God-given assets which should be used to glorify God and advance His kingdom. 

2. Gambling is wrong because it involves a chance of gain at the expense and suffering of others.

The nature of gambling is such that a person has a chance of gain only because others have suffered loss. The economic benefits come only to a very few. The financial loss is borne by many who usually can least afford it. The fact that people involved in gambling are commonly referred to in derogatory terms by its promoters is an indication of the status to which they are reduced. Whether or not the financial loss is excessive, gamblers are basically the losers while the operators of gambling establishments are the winners.

The suffering caused by gambling and ultimately by gamblers themselves, is totally inconsistent with the teaching of Scripture concerning love. Not only is the Christian to love those who are lovable, but even enemies. God’s people are to love their neighbors as themselves. The principle of love will prevent Christians from gambling because of the damage it does to others. The principle of love will cause Christians to oppose any effort by the state or any other organization to legalize any activity based on a weakness of people which degrades society.  Gambling is a snare to many people.  Would you like to be the one who placed a snare in your brother's path?  What will you do when you must give account for not only your own soul but for the souls of those whom you have helped Satan to ensnare? 

3. Gambling is wrong because it is inconsistent with the work ethic presented to us in Scripture.

Throughout Scripture the importance of work is emphasized. In several places the correlation between working and eating is stated. The Old Testament reminds us, “He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread:...” (Proverbs 12:11).

In the New Testament the same principle is stated with great forcefulness. To the Thessalonians Paul wrote: “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

Not only does the Bible require that one should work for the necessities of life, but it also warns against the something for nothing, get-rich-quick approach.

Consider the warnings of scripture:

"...he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.“  (Proverbs 28:20).

“He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.”  (Proverbs 28:22).

“Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.”  (Proverbs 13:11).

4. Gambling is wrong because it tends to be habit forming (addictive).

Gambling, like other evils, has a tendency to become an addiction. As in the case of alcoholics and drug addicts, compulsive gamblers are dominated to the extent that they risk not only money, but everything meaningful in life. They have lost control of themselves.

This condition is contrary to the teaching of Scripture. The Word of God points out that a Christian will refuse to be brought under the power even of lawful things (1 Corinthians 6:12).

The person who is full of the Holy Ghost will be characterized by temperance (self-control)  (Galatians 5:23).

Those who have studied gambling addiction seem to agree there are six symptoms characteristic of compulsive gambling:

1. The activity becomes chronically repetitive.

2. It becomes a mania which precludes all other interests, including the home.

3. A pathologic optimism replaces the ability to learn from previous losing experiences.

4. The ability to stop in a winning situation no longer exists.

5. In spite of initial decisions to gamble only so much the addict invariably risks too much.

6. The activity seems to produce an enjoyable tension consisting of both pain and pleasure.

It is obvious that habitual gamblers are under the control of the compulsion to gamble. Rather than being servants of God, they are servants of a desire they cannot handle. Paul described the condition clearly when he wrote:

 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”  (Romans 6:16).

Because of the degrading possibility of addiction, gambling should be considered an evil. 

Christian Responsibility in Relation to Gambling 

When the various truths of God’s Word are considered, Christians cannot adopt a neutral stance toward gambling. There are responsibilities which they cannot ignore.

When the Bible instructs believers, “...whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31), it certainly precludes gambling. God is not glorified when people put their trust in chance rather than in the Lord.

When God’s Word teaches that we should “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22) it precludes gambling. There is no way in which the practice of gambling can be considered anything other than evil when it violates principles of Gods Word concerning stewardship, consideration of others, and the dignity of honest labor.

Those who want to live according to Scripture must refrain from participation in any form of gambling.