Liberty's Library

Originally written July 21, 2005


Mornin' Everyone,

Have you ever wondered where in the Bible it says that gambling is wrong? I sure have. So I did some checking this morning and found something rather interesting. The Bible doesn't say gambling is wrong. Furthermore, the Bible never mentions the word "gambling" at all!

So, if the Bible doesn't label gambling as a sin, where did we get this notion that gambling is wrong in the first place? I'm not exactly sure, but we do know that we are told to be good stewards of our money (1 Peter 4:10). Jesus told a parable about servants who are given some money by their master and are told to go put it to work for him. Two of the servants do so and reap benefits. One is lazy and does not do what his master tells him. The master praises the two servants but calls the other wicked (Luke 19:22).

So how did the two servants make the extra money? They put it to work for them, like investing it in something (Luke 19:15ff). Could it be that the stock market is a valid way to make money? Sure is...but isn't it a risk? You bet your belt buckle it is. That's why they call the stock market a gamble. Hmmm...so is the Dow Jones evil?

I've been told that games of chance are the foothold of the Devil because they are a method of gambling. The Bible speaks of a certain game of chance called "casting lots". The casting of lots was a random way to make decisions much like flipping a coin or rolling the dice. The soldiers at the foot of the cross cast lots to see who would get Jesus' clothing and the apostles cast lots after His ascension to choose Matthias as the new apostle (Acts 1).

Okay, so the apostles cast lots...am I saying the gambled? Yep, they most certainly did. Would the Holy Spirit use sin as an avenue to work through other Christians? If I understand the nature of God, then the answer is no. Therefore it appears that the simple act of gambling in and of itself is not wrong.

NOTE: I am not talking about addicted gamblers...just the act itself.

Be good and be God's ~