Powerball and Biblical Principles

The odds of winning the biggest Powerball jackpot in history were 1 in 292.2 million, and there’s finally a winner – actually, there are three winners who will split an estimated $1.6 billion. The record-setting lottery grew to the record-setting amount after 20 drawings without a winner. Each winless drawing set off a frenzy of ticket-buying by people dreaming of becoming rich.

Playing the lottery seems like an innocent quest for wealth. For many people, however, the lure of gambling becomes an addiction with disastrous results and a cost far beyond monetary loss.

In light of the Powerball jackpot’s news-making payout, we share some Biblical insights by David Virkler from his commentary "Gambling: What’s Wrong With It?". 

The principles of Christian living outlined in God’s Word fly in the face of the gambling philosophy. Some might argue that life itself is a gamble. In a sense, much of life involves taking a risk, but that is not at all the same thing. Gambling involves getting something for nothing with no personal growth or social gain. The gain of the winner is always at someone else’s expense.

No Christian should gamble even one cent. It is poor stewardship of what God has provided and promotes false principles for living and financial management.

Although there is no specific verse in the Bible that says, “Thou shalt not gamble,” numerous texts address principles that have a bearing on this issue.

Faith

 - There is no such thing as “luck” in the plan of God. The Christian life is not blind chance; it is God's choice. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28) “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”  (2 Cor. 5:7)

- We are to trust God to meet our needs. “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?… Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown in the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?… But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matt. 6:26, 30, 33)

Greed

- We are not to seek riches simply for monetary gain. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matt. 6:19-20)

- Monetary greed results in other forms of harm. “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”.  (1 Tim. 6:9, 10) The love of money is at the heart of gambling!

- Monetary greed leads to family troubles. “He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house.” (Prov. 15:27) 

Materialism

- Our focus should be on the things of God, not material possessions. “…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4) “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:20) “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Col. 3:1-4)

- Cheerful and generous giving to God’s work leads to financial sufficiency. “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully…. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”  (2 Cor. 9:6, 8)

Finances

- We are to wisely invest what God has given us. In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Christ taught that we will be called to give an account of what God has given us, and that includes our money. Those who do not invest wisely show themselves unworthy of further blessings. Gambling takes money away from legitimate needs for a “chance” at greater wealth. The prophet Isaiah asked, “Why do you spend money for what is not bread and your wages for what does not satisfy?” (Isaiah 55:2)

- Wealth achieved through deceitful means does not last. “Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers by labor will increase.”  (Prov. 13:11). Gambling is often fraught with deceit and fraud.

- Honest work is the biblical model (Gen. 2:15, Ex. 20:9) and enables us to provide for the needs of others (Prov. 31, 2 Thess. 3:10). Gambling leads to a mindset that wealth can be achieved with no effort. 

Selflessness

- We are to live with the welfare of others in mind. “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit…Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:3, 4) Jesus commanded us to love our neighbor as our self (Mark 12:31). For one to win at gambling, someone else must lose. 

- God’s word warns against mistreating the poor and vulnerable in society—those gambling hurts the most. “He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he who gives to the rich will surely come to poverty.” (Prov. 22:16) “Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor.” (Zech. 7:10a)

- Our actions affect others. “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.” Gambling can cause the stumbling of a weaker brother (1 Cor. 8) and affects our testimony before the unsaved. (Rom. 14:7) “…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”  (1 Cor. 10:30-31)

- We are not to covet what others have. Gambling is coveting—an attempt to gain others' money without providing anything in return. God specifically prohibits coveting in Exodus 20:16, and Christ warned against it. “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (Luke 12:15)  

We have developed a society crazed by false hopes of instant success bowing at the shrine of “Lady Luck.” A casino owner once admitted, “All the praying in the world isn’t gonna change your luck,” yet people keep going back on the misguided notion that this will be the time they strike it rich and they will live happily ever after.

This is carried over into the view of eternity. Too often we hear, “I’ll take my chances.” There is no such thing as chance in salvation! We get to Heaven by choice not by chance. You either believe and receive Christ, making a conscious reasonable decision, or you disbelieve Jesus Christ and refuse Him. To do nothing is not chance—it is choice. 

Jesus Christ is the reality that the empty, frustrated gambler seeks, and He will save you if you trust Him. He has dealt with the terrible odds against us and, in careful calculation, came and died on the cross so we may have salvation as a gift. Invite Jesus Christ into your heart in simple faith. Pray the sinner’s prayer, “God be merciful to me the sinner” (Luke 18:13). Romans 10:13 promises that “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”