Shots Across The Bow

Winning isn't a sin

As for the lottery issue, I just have one question: How long will it take after the amendment passes before we see the same groups campaigning against a lottery start holding raffles, cakewalks, and other now illegal games of chance? About as long as it takes for the ink to fdy on the raffle tickets is my guess. A congregation in my neighborhood has outgrown their old building and is moving to a larger building. Maybe it's just coincidence that their pastor is in favor of allowing lotteries, and gaming for charity.

But I doubt it

A buddy of mine at work asked an interesting question: Where in the bible does it forbid gambling? I did some searching on the web and found this page containing several links to verses which the author purports to be anti-gambling.
Most notable is that the Bible never specifically mentions gambling, except that the soldiers cast lots for Jesus' clothing as he was crucified. Other than that New testament reference, there is no mention of gambling in the Bible.

So, where do they get their belief that gambling is a sin? Well, based on the page referenced above, there are several factors.

1. We should work to get ahead.
   
2. We should trust God to take care of us.
   
3. Gambling relies on greed and covetousness, wanting something for nothing.
   
4. It focuses us on material rather than spiritual wealth.

Just off hand, it looks like 1. and 2. are contradictory. We are supposed to let God take care of us, but work our tail ends off to survive. Sounds like holding down a job is a sin according to 2, but being unemployed is a sin by number 1. Puzzling.
Gambling does have a component of greed, but so does investing. Is investing in the stock market a sin as well? How about buying corporate or government bonds? What about putting your money in a savings account that pays interest? Isn't that something for nothing?
Number 4 gets the cart before the horse. We gamble because we are already concerned with material things. Or because we like the excitement. Or because we like the entertainment. Or because we are bored. Or because we don't know how to calculate the odds. Or for any of a dozen other reasons.
Personally, I don't gamble much, because I have better things to do with my money than give it to a slot machine. But I do make the occasional wager with my brother or father, and I did gamble some in Vegas on a business trip, and in the Bahamas on a trip with my wife. I will even purchase a lottery ticket every now and again, just for the fun of dreaming. It's just entertainment.
If you are gambling to take the other guy's heart out, then you're sinning whether you sit at the table or not. If you are throwing away money you need to support your family, you are sinning whether you are spending that money at the track or giving it to a charity. The sin is not in your actions, but in your heart.
I think it comes down to this; some folks believe that success in this life means failure in the afterlife, that winning is of itself a bad thing. To have a winner, we must have a loser, and that's bad. We have non-competitive sports leagues for our kids now. How ridiculous is that?
There is nothing wrong with winning, with success. It's OK to get ahead, whether you work for it, or win it. All of life is a risk; every decision we make is a gamble.
"Do I accept this promotion, or move to another job?"
"Do I ask for a raise now, or wait for 6 months?
"Should I take this job, or wait for a better offer?
"Do I get married now to her, or do I establish my career first?"
"Do I go to college, or into business?
"Should I wear the blue tie, or the red one?"
These decisions all affect our lives and fortunes, and all are gambles we accept as a matter of course. Gambling, whether directly or indirectly is an inherent part of life.

Posted by Rich at October 29, 2002 1:18 PM