I have a serious question about gambling and prayer?

Question

I know that most answers will be gambling is a sin, but when ones financial need is great and prayer alone isn't helping, is it really so wrong to buy lottery tickets in hopes of helping out financially? I guess my faith may be a little
out of whack, right or wrong?

Answer 1

Understand what gambling is and what prayer is. Gambling is buying a minute chance to win money. It is firt of all recreation, paying for the thrill of imagination of winning. Odds are you wont win, but one can get some excitement out of playing with possibility--even a very small one. Gamble for the thrill, for he excitement, for the tease of possibility. Don't gamble to solve money problems. I don't consider gambling a sin unless you attach unreasonable hope to it and neglect to make other responsible decisions.
Prayer is not a tool to manipulate God or providence or a substitute for making responsible decisions. Unreasonable expectations of prayer can be just as destructive as unreasonable expectations of gambling. Prayer is the act of conciously putting yourself in the presence of God and finding what God has for you to know and learn. God will give what God will give. I consider the assumption of adequate status to "bargain" with God unreasonable hubris and a detriment to spiritual growth.
Pray and be open to new understandings of God and yourself. Gamble if you can spare the money and enjoy the thrill. (It's no worse than spending money on stuff you dont need.) But. . .dont look to eathre to solve problems tht God intended for you to confront with the wisdom and intelligence you were given.

Answer 2

Gambling is considered a sin because it seeks much for little - a fair definition of robbery i.e. taking from others.
The Bible suggests that the reason for the robbery is not a factor in its classification of such.
Prayer is helping. You have already identified that your need is great. You have already been shown you need more than prayer - credit consolidation, a second job, etc. You have been shown your faith is so important to you that you are willing to stretch out and ask if it is neediness or faith that will determine your ways.
Thank you for your willingness to be so open with us.

Answer 3

I'm not real sure what it says in the Bible about gambling, I don't really have that problem...but I would guess it has something to do with throwing your heart earned money out. Instead you could be helping someone, or feeding your family, and how that can become an obsession for some people who then can't stop and throw out everything God gave them just to try to get MORE....

Answer 4

You'll be farther ahead with prayer than the lottery. If you are low on money, the last thing you need to do is gamble what little you have away, especially if you have a family. .Best wishes.

Answer 5

I don't believe it is the right thing for a Christian to do, but I'll tell you of a time before I was a Christian.
I was living in Vancouver, BC, at the age of 20. I had no job, no money, and my sister was coming to visit. I did not want to tell her that I had nothing to offer for dinner. She said she wanted to go for a walk. I had been reading the Bible for the first time in my life, and was having that "new faith" feeling. I thought for sure that God was going to provide for me.
We started out on our walk, and about two blocks on the way I spotted a rolled up piece of orange paper. Immediately my heart jumped with anticipation, as I ran to pick it up. When I got there I was so excited because it was a rolled up $2 (orange, because it's Canadian). After I unrolled it, I saw that it was two $2 bills.
I said nothing to my sister about me being broke. I mean, I was really broke. This was all the money I had in the world for 4 more days.
My sister wanted to go to the horse race, so we went. It cost $2 to get in, and $2 to place a bet. I bet on the least likely to win horse and he came in first. I won $56. I took my sister out for dinner, and had enough money to see me through until my unemployment cheque came in four days later.
But, now that I'm a Christian ver batum, I don't gamble. I trust in God for my needs, and I work like the Bible says, "if you don't work, you don't eat."

Answer 6

Wrong! I'm not religious at all, but I think most people I know who ARE, still buy their weekly lottery ticket! As long as you're not buying the tickets with your rent/ food money, what's the problem? We'd all like an easy way out of our financial woes!

Answer 7

Right . Gambling itself isn't a sin. The excess that takes away from your family is a problem that needs to be addressed.

Answer 8

the bible doesn't ban gambling. Christians who tell you it is a sin should be asked for chapter and verse to support it. gambling, however, should be done recreationally. it can't be counted on to supply your needs. relying on it in that way would be a sin. but gambling is not.

Answer 9

several years ago a chap won millions on pounds here,on the British National Lottery.

It turned out that he was a Muslim,he should not have been gambling.
He donated part of his winnings to the mosque,his was soon forgiven for his mistake.

Buying the odd lottery ticket would not be a sin,especially if you were to donate a small part of any win to your "church".
You are entitled to dream the same as us non religious people.

Answer 10

You are being tested...open all the opportunities and you will find that gambling leaves very little return to what other things will come from your eternal provider...god.