Gambling
What does the
bible teach us about gambling?
Christ did not prohibit
gambling, but he taught us not to put our heart on money and not to let
the
want for riches conquer us. So, if you do gamble, it must not
be
out of greed, or to become rich to indulge in pleasures to your own
gratification.
Gambling, indeed,
is not a wise thing to do for poor people: for if you don't gamble you
don't loose. Why go gamble that little you have instead of to pray to
God.
The rich have much more and many gamble for their recreation: to win or
loose makes no difference to them, for they have plenty.
Indeed,
we can see this as a despicable waste of money: but
if those
who choose to spend their money at the gambling tables because they
have
plenty do not forget the poor and do much more in charity, they will do
a good thing in the eyes of God.
So,
indeed, if you
so feel, by all means purchase a lottery ticket for a pound, but do not
grow obsessed and buy multiple numbers out of uncontrolled eagerness to
win.
Or become obsessed with scratch-cards to your ruin, as such is not
wise,
and surely not the way of a prudent Christian. I
myself, for
example, purchase lottery tickets, not with aim to become rich but to
gain
a win that I can surely use to help my self and others.
Christ has
never expressed any distaste for this behaviour.