Questionable sin - Gambling?

Question

Hi,
I am a christian living in Nevada. One night my wife and I went to dinner at a casino. On the way out I played video poker and won $100. In one church I used to go to in California, I was told that it's a sin to gamble but nowhere could they give me concrete proof from the bible that it is. And even if it is, who gets the glory for my winnings? God, Satan, or just luck? So is it a sin to gamble?

Sorry, let me be more accurate. When I said bible, I meant the Holy Bible used by christians.

Answer 1

There are a lot of great answers here. I especially like the one where scripture references were given because that is what you really need to go by.

Gambling is one of those grey areas that Christians will debate about until the Lord comes. Just like drinking alcoholic beverages, gambling is not listed anywhere in the bible as being prohibited. I too was given questionable scriptures regarding this very issue. The verse given to me was "They cast lots for Jesus clothes". To that my rebuttal was, yes and "casting lots causes contentions to cease" and also the 11 disciples cast lots to see who would replace Judas Iscariot.

So here's the scoop: Since there is no concrete "thou shalt nots" concerning gambling, then God leaves it up to you do use your conscience. Ask yourself why you are gambling. Is it for the love of money? Then you know God probably wouldn't approve of it. But if it was just to have a good time with your wife after dinner, and assuming you don't have a gambling problem, then God probably okays it. In that case, you would give God the glory not for your winnings but for the good time you had with your wife (and yes, don't forget to tithe on it).

I believe it's in the book of Romans concerning such grey matters where it is written that if another Christian sees you doing it and it causes a him or her to stumble, then it is sin. It also mentions that if you think it is a to do this thing sin, then it is to you. This covers all those questionable areas such as drinking alcohol, gambling, and picking your nose.

So in short, ask yourselves these questions:
1) Does the Bible say not to do it?
2) If not, does your conscience say it's permissable?
3) If so, is there another Christian around you who's conscience might not say it's permissable?
4) If not, what are your motives (or are you addicted)?

The safest and quickest answer is to just say no to these questionable areas. But if you're just dropping a dollar worth of nickles in a slot machine to enjoy some time with your wife then, biblically, there is no prohibition against doing so.

To clarify about the issue of drinking alcohol, according to the bible, IT IS a sin to get drunk (Proverbs), but not to drink alcohol.

Answer 2

It is poor stewardship of your resources to risk funds needed to feed, house, clothe your family or use your tithe money for gambling. Gambling can be addictive and destructive and when it reaches that level it would be considered a sin for that individual because it was destructive.

Using your entertainment money to gamble because you enjoy it is ok. I do not think God spends much time rigging games so certain people win or lose but I suspect on occassion God does if it can get God's point across. Satan would work in your head to say go on bet the rent but would not rig the game. It is just luck.

Now then God can get the glory if you use the winnings to do good. What ever good God is guiding you to do. You do need to tithe on the winnings. No tithing will not garuntee that you win again. Some Christian joke of a sin tax for Gambling winnings. This is normally the tithe and half again as much since casting lots (gambling) is not portrayed positively in the scripture.

When it is refered to it is in relation to sorcery or dividing up Jesus' clothing.

Answer 3

So what are you intentions for the spoils of your gambling? And are you hurting anyone? Also, do you intend to "return a tenth to God?" (Tithing is returning money that is already HIS. It is NOT a gift. Additional money beyond the 10% is a gift.) If it becomes an obsession, then it is definitely a problem and an addiction, and you shouldn't do it. If you are disregarding your family in order to gamble (i.e., losing your rent and/or grocery money for the month), then it is also a problem. Are you ultimately giving God glory during or after this experience? The Bible says you should give God ALL the glory for everything in your life.

Answer 4

I don't believe that the Bible mentions gambling specifically. You do, however, seem to be looking for a Biblical answer and not the personal opinion of fellow readers. I have listed several chapters which mention monetary issues.
* The pitfalls of the love of money-1 Timothy 6:10, Hebrews 13:5
*Attempts to "get-rich quick"- Proverbs 13:11, Proverbs 23:5, Ecclesiastes 5:10

I've provided some links to an online Bible for a quick reference. I hope this helps!

Answer 5

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

To win money is how satan gets you to grow weak in your faith, and causes you to look away from God for personal spiritual stability, by raising your hopes in the possibility of winning more and more until it becomes a sickness.

This is why so many marriages, families are destroyed. Satan is in the business to destroy, and God is in the business to restore. You are Christians, so you must always remember whom you are serving. The Almighty God! Praise the Lord! He is forgiving to those who repent of their sins!!

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Defination of mammon-Of Chaldee origin (confidence, that is, figuratively wealth, personified); mammonas, that is, avarice (deified): - mammon.

Satan puts confusion into our minds when something that appears to be innocent, is actually a distructful carrot that satan is dangling in front of you, and he is allowing you to win 100.00 dollars to get you hooked.Dont fall for it. There is nothing innocent about it.

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

To go against the word of God and gamble does not bring glory to God. He will provide you with all the necessary financial and structural and spiritual needs you need in your life.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

What most born again Christians don't realze when they become born again is that their bodies no longer belong to them but to the Lord. We simply cannot do as we please anylonger because of the covenant we made with the Lord upon our accepting Jesus as our Savior.

1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Jeremiah 26:13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.

I hope this was helpful to you.
God bless you
carol

Answer 6

Some believe that it is a sin to gamble. Right or Wrong, people can become addicted to gambling. If that happens then you will be in trouble. I personally don't believe that it's a sin, but I hardly ever gamble. Again, if you do it all the time, then there's trouble.

Answer 7

Intoxicants and Gambling Prohibited*

[2:219] They ask you about intoxicants and gambling: say, "In them there is a gross sin, and some benefits for the people. But their sinfulness far outweighs their benefit." They also ask you what to give to charity: say, "The excess." GOD thus clarifies the revelations for you, that you may reflect,

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*2:219 The world now recognizes that the economic benefits from manufacturing alcoholic beverages and illicit drugs are not worth the traffic fatalities, brain damage to children of alcoholic mothers, family crises, and other disastrous consequences. Check with "Alcoholics Anonymous" and "Gamblers Anonymous" for more information. See also 5:90-91.

http://www.submission.org/suras/sura2.htm

Answer 8

Yes, it is a sin. You gamble for money, that's the love of money and it is greed.

As for the winning, I don't know who gets the glory but casino is part of the devil's world, don't touch it.

Answer 9

Honestly, it is a sin to gamble a few years ago I read about in the new testament, I can' t remember where, but trust me it's there.

Answer 10

Gambling insipres greed which is a sin, it also relys on luck which was a false god. hence gambling is wrong but not a sin