The Bible directs us in Ephesians 4 to put off the works of the flesh, those things that do not please God, that are reflective or are consistent with our old nature - who we used to be - and to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, allowing Him to control our actions. We pick up in verse 22...
22that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,23and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,24and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
In verse 27, we're told to not give place to the devil, and then in verse 28, it says:28Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
The Bible lays out strong principles of responsibility and the importance of work. There are all sorts of things that the world promises that would cause us to pursue a greedy path, a path of idolatry where we depend on self or even chance, rather than God. You could try to take a shortcut to material possessions instead of trusting God. But, He calls us to a sense of dependence on Him, to do our work as unto Him, and to live a holy life that is free from idolatry and greed, recognizing that what we possess are gifts from Him.
In Isaiah 65, we find a passage of Scripture that can is consistent with the premise that hearts are lured away from God through the practice of gambling. Here is the New American Standard translation of verses 11 and 12:
11"But you who forsake the LORD, Who forget My holy mountain, Who set a table for Fortune, And who fill cups with mixed wine for Destiny,12I will destine you for the sword, And all of you will bow down to the slaughter. Because I called, but you did not answer ; I spoke, but you did not hear. And you did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight."
This is one of a number of Scriptures that I believe addresses Biblical principles that are violated by gambling.
During my tenure here at Faith Radio, which just rolled over the 23-year mark last week, one of the prevalent public policy subjects on which I have commented, conducted interviews, and encouraged action on is the topic of gambling. Like clockwork, year after year, the work of the Alabama Legislature was heavily influenced by attempts to expand gambling in our state. Even though voters convincingly turned back a state lottery in 1999, there is still discussion over that possibility. In an attempt to influence public policy, you have the occurrence of gambling interests funding political campaigns.
Faith Radio has maintained its strong stand against the practice of gambling throughout the years A former ministry partner announced a policy shift last year that would allow its employees to gamble. Our Board of Directors responded by asking the Chairman of the Board of Trustees to rescind the decision. That did not take place, and our Board voted to sever that relationship.
We are so appreciative of the letters, phone calls, and e-mails of support for that decision, and we believe that decision has led to the improved quality of our programming lineup, the increase in locally-produced shows, and the continued level of trust that Faith Radio has attempted to build throughout the years.
Our strong stand on the topic of gambling is one that is rooted in the Scriptures. Kerby Anderson of Probe Ministries points out these four elements of how gambling violates the principles of the Bible:
1 - The Bible emphasizes a number of truths that conflict with gambling. The Bible, for example, emphasizes the sovereignty of God (Matt. 10:29–30). Gambling, however, is based on chance. The Bible admonishes people to work creatively and for the benefit of others (Eph. 4:28), while gambling fosters a something-for-nothing attitude. The Bible condemns materialism (Matt. 6:24–25) while gambling promotes it.
Also, gambling breeds a form of covetousness, whereas the tenth commandment (Exod. 20:17) admonishes people not to covet. Coveting, greed, and selfishness are the base emotions that entice individuals to gamble.
2 - Gambling destroys the work ethic. Two key biblical passages deal with the work ethic. In Colossians 3:23–24 the apostle Paul wrote, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." And in 2 Thessalonians 3:7,10, he stated, "For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. . . . For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
3 - Gambling destroys families. Kerby points out that gambling is a major cause of family neglect. Many of the social costs associated with gambling come from a get-rich-quick mindset. As people get caught up in a gambling frenzy, they begin to neglect their families. Money spent on lottery tickets or at racetracks is frequently not risk capital but is income that should be spent on family needs. According to 1 Timothy 5:8, a person who refuses to care for his family is worse than an unbeliever. Parents must provide for their children (2 Cor. 12:14) and eat the bread of their labors (2 Thess. 3:12). When gambling is legalized, it causes people to neglect their God-mandated responsibility to care for their families, and many of those families then often end up on welfare.
4 - Gambling is a form of state-sponsored greed. Romans 13:4 teaches that government is to be a servant of God, providing order in society and promoting public virtue. Legalized gambling undercuts government's role and subverts the moral fabric of society through greed and selfishness promoted by a state-sponsored vice.
A sermon outline provided by our friends at ALCAP, the Alabama Citizens Action Program, centered around Isaiah 65:11, states that when we gamble to change the outcome of our lives, we turn from God, we turn to false gods, and we give to others what belongs to God. The false gods are identified as "Fortune" and "Destiny." The practice of gambling violates a number of Biblical principles, and does not reflect solid Biblical stewardship.
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