Gambling and the Christian

For what it’s worth, I’m going to briefly tackle the question of what the Bible has to say about gambling. My sister, Stephanie, is a sophomore at Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, PA, and she texted me about this issue earlier in the week. I told her that I would reply in a blog, so here goes nothing.

Gambling presents itself in many forms, and is more prominent today than at any other point in history. From slot machines to televised poker tournaments to sports lines, betting has never been more popular. But is there anything Scripturally wrong with it?

I suppose this would be a good time to make a confession: I have been known in the past to make a few friendly wagers with personal friends regarding sporting events. Never a lot (I don’t have a lot to wager), but still enough to garner attention. I followed one simple rule: don’t make a bet that you can’t afford to pay if you lose.

The problem that most Christians have with gambling is the contradiction it seems to have with Biblical stewardship. 1 Timothy 6 explains that a believer’s life should not be about finding ways to make more money or desiring wealth. Earthly riches will pass away, but a pursuit of godliness is of eternal benefit. Paul goes so far as to call the love of money “the root of all evil” (v. 10).

My guess is that there is a fine line somewhere between those who gamble periodically and those who have a gambling addiction. The same argument often arises when believers discuss alcohol. Some say, “Never touch the stuff,” but others, “There’s nothing wrong with it every now and then as long as it doesn’t lead to drunkenness”. There are valid points for both sides, but there is danger in “flirting” with something that could lead to sin.

Personally, I don’t see much difference between things like sports betting and playing the stock market. In both cases, those involved are taking educated risks that could lead to financial reward or unforeseen disaster. Now I don’t play the stock market, but I know many Christians that do and see nothing wrong with it.

Again, the issue goes back to stewardship. Jesus has commanded that Christians be responsible with earthly possessions (Matthew 25:14-30), even if that means making a wise investment so that the possessions will increase (note the key word wise). However, I would be concerned if I knew of a believer who made a habit of gambling. Certainly there are much more worthy investments that the believer can make than to risk losing money to a casino, bookie, or an unpredictable stock. Christians would be better off making extra donations to missions and the local church.

Two passages in Judges warn of the dangers of taking unnecessary risks. One is the story of Jephthah (11:29-40), who promised to give God the next thing that came through his door as a sacrifice of thanksgiving for winning a battle. That blind “gamble” ended up costing him his daughter. Another example is of Samson (14:10-20), who killed 30 men to pay back the men that solved his riddle at his wedding feast. In each case, the gambler made a hasty decision and took drastic measures to pay what was owed. Believers ought not to fall into such traps.

My personal conclusion is that the potential risks of gambling are often not worth the reward. Each believer must be accountable to God for his own financial decisions. Better to be sure that we are using our money in a God-honoring way than to throw it away at the pleasures of the world.