Richard Hollerman

We know that Jesus our Lord has said, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you” (Matthew 7:12). He also declared, “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you” (Luke 6:31). Thus, we must ask, in light of Jesus’ command, “Would you want others to take your money?” Or “Would you want someone else to rob you of your money in order to receive some sort of reward themselves?”

We know the answer to these questions. Yet, we know that Gambling does just that. And this is why Christians have traditionally opposed the sin of gambling. Of course, we know that a few who profess Christ would say that they can gamble and still be acceptable to God. Regardless of the incompatibility of this with Christian principles and regardless of what followers of Christ have always done or refused to do, we know that there are a few who would oppose  gambling. And there are some who would insist on seeking to become rich at others’ expense.

Gambling, also known as “betting” or “gaming,” has been defined in this way:

Gambling (also known as betting or gaming) is the wagering of something of value (“the stakes”) on a random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy are discounted. Gambling thus requires three elements to be present: consideration (an amount wagered), risk (chance), and a prize.[1] The outcome of the wager is often immediate, such as a single roll of dice, a spin of a roulette wheel, or a horse crossing the finish line, but longer time frames are also common, allowing wagers on the outcome of a future sports contest or even an entire sports season. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling).

We have other articles dealing with this sin elsewhere on this website, but we had to think of this as we read the news this morning. It was declared that in 2022, the Powerball lottery had won $2.02 billion in one “shot” in California! ($720 million in the “Mega Millions”). And in 2016, we find $1.586 billion. And now, in 2023, someone has “won” the third largest settlement in history—$1.08 billion!

Other amounts would be $754.6 million in Washington on January 5, $1.626 million in Oregon on March 6, and $252.6 million in Ohio on April 19, of this year. It is said that this form of wicked seeking to “win” the jackpot takes $2 per play and that 45 states now have legalized gambling (besides the territories)

We can see from these statistics that apparently all but 5 states have now legalized such gambling or lottery. (We don’t know which states this would be or the reasons for their abstinence.) Apparently most in the United States either participate in or allow this evil practice!

We wonder what other nations do in this regard? What about Canada, South America, Africa, Europe, and the Far East? What do they do?

Yes, we are living in an upside-down world. And to think that some 45 of the states seem to endorse this sin! How sad, how very sad!

Let us make sure that we (personally) are clean and do right regarding money and the acquisition of money.

Let’s make sure that we earn our money in honorable ways rather than through the sin of gambling.

It may be that we have “won” $1,000 or $1,000,000 through gambling. It is time that we paid back (to the government or whatever?) what we are received in this evil way.

Of course, if we are part of the body of Christ (and, hopefully, we are), we are in to the wickedness of gambling. It would be a shame if some where opposed and others were endorsing and participating in this.

Let us always put God first, before money! Let us follow the path of Christ rather than the popular but losing ways of the world.

See also www.Truediscipleship.com