Redeemer Lutheran Church

Gambling

 

God’s Word contains repeated warnings against all active striving for the increase of material possessions as a means of security, as if the meaning of life is to be found in the acquisition of money. Jesus stated pointedly, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). At its root the sin of greed is idolatry:

 

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5).

 

And since it is so crassly egocentric it is predictably destructive of human relationships, and it is deserving of God’s judgment. Just as tragically, the desire to be rich is potentially destructive of one’s very own person (physically, as well as spiritually):

 

“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:9-10).

 

Since gambling by its very definition is the betting or staking of something of value for the hope of gain, and because it is often a focused desire to obtain wealth for its own sake, the potential for sin and spiritual harm to oneself and to others is present.