Gambling in the Bible It all depends upon your perspective and interpretation. The Bible doesn't directly address gambling and such silence provides the fertile ground for discussion. The sin in modern gambling lies in the throwing away of resources that are better put to productive use. Since there were no 'losers' here - everyone got a parcel of land - and no associated vices, and since it was believed in ancient times that the lots thrown were controlled by the will of the deity, one fails to see how this can be equated.

Answer: Although the words 'gambling' or 'lottery' are not in the King James Version Bible, numerous verses denounce the attitudes that are behind them. They include idol worship and greed, which are the foundations that encourage this kind of behavior.

People often indulge in gambling, be it playing the lottery or going to a casino, because they hope to 'get lucky.' Scripture states that such things as fortune, fate, luck and destiny are as foreign gods in whom the people foolishly place their hope.

The Eternal clearly states that not only does not like the attitude behind gambling he is willing to punish people for indulging in such foolishness. Through the prophet Isaiah he states, 'But you who forsake the LORD . . . who prepare a table for Fortune, and who furnish the drink offering to Fate, Therefore I will destine you to the sword; and you will all bow down to the slaughter . . .' (Isaiah 65:11 - 12, HBFV).

The TEV Bible translation of Isaiah 65:11 states that those who reject our Creator worship gods of 'luck and fate,' the two primary characteristics that underpin gambling. A passage in the book of Proverbs states, 'Worthless, wicked people go around telling lies. They wink and make gestures to deceive you, all the while planning evil in their perverted minds . . .' (Proverbs 6:12 - 14, TEV).

The CEV translation states that liars go around 'winking and giving signals' to deceive others. Such signals between people are the same kinds of stereotypical signs often associated with those seeking to tip the gambling odds in their favor.

Old Testament Bingo Cards

One of the deceptive beliefs behind gambling is that by making a small 'investment' one can become rich. This attitude leads to what the word of God defines simply as GREED. Games of chance where money is involved also encourages the false notion that a person can get something for nothing. Being greedy is ultimately a waste of time and distracts a person from what is truly important in life.

Someone once stated that the person who dies with the most toys (cars, houses, other possessions) wins at life. It is this type of materialistic drive and the desire to have more that helps fuel an obsession with gambling. The world's wisest man, Solomon, stated several times how foolish is was to pursue riches (Proverbs 23:5, 27:20, 24).

One day a person shouted to Jesus from a crowd asking him for help in dividing a family inheritance between him and his brother. Jesus' sharp, to-the-point response first stated that his purpose on earth was not to be a judge or arbitrator between people to settle their disputes.

The word 'arbitrator' used in the NASB and other translations for Jesus' response in Luke 12:14 come from a Greek word whose meaning is very similar to the word 'destiny' in the Hebrew. Both words have in common the same concept of portioning out or dividing that gambling businesses partake in when they take the wealth of one person and give it to someone else.

Old Testament Bingo Printable

Jesus warned the man who screamed for his help to be wary of covetousness (greed) since God never intended a person's life revolve around the accumulation of physical things (Luke 12:15). He then gave what is known as the parable of the foolish rich man who built bigger barns (verses 16 - 21).

Old Testament Bingo

The book of Jeremiah also warns us not to be 'greedy for gain' (Jeremiah 6:13, 15). In short, the Bible says that gambling, especially with our hard earned money, is something we should not pursue or indulge in.