Growing up, Sunday school told us to stay away from the big sins: drinking, sex, drugs, gambling. But what does the Bible really say about gambling?
The same church that taught me to stay away from such sins also told me the Bible was the foundation for truth and practice in the Christian life. As I grew up and took the Scripture seriously, I realized there was more nuance and complexity to simply, “Don’t do these things.” God does warn us to stay away from certain things, but the “why” matters even more to God. A simple legal system doesn’t teach us his heart, what he really wants for our life, now and for eternity.
Therefore, we should endeavor to find what the Bible really says about a topic and, even more, why God gives certain warnings. He’s not out to keep us from “fun.” He loves us and wants to give us sustaining abundance, something real that lasts.
Looking specifically at gambling, we can see not only what not to do, since his love seeks to protect us from danger and destruction; more importantly, we also discover God’s heart to give us good gifts.
Does the Bible Specifically Mention Gambling?
The Bible doesn’t directly mention gambling by name, but it does address money extensively. These principles can be applied to all financial integrity, including gambling.
Many cite 1 Timothy 6:10 regarding gambling: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” The Scripture warns about the destructive nature of greed, pursuing wealth for its own sake or our own pleasure. Money isn’t evil, but the love of it over what truly matters is concerning. Gambling is often an attempt to get rich quick, and this leads individuals down a harmful path which can result in poverty, strained relationships, and loss of faith. Gambling promotes a love of money, a heart position resisting trust in God’s provision.
Proverbs teaches a great deal about money, and Proverbs 13:11 says, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.” People gaining quick wealth will also quickly lose it, since the heart behind it isn’t truth or honesty. Gambling encourages us to get something for nothing, or very little. As an example of this truth, studies show that 70 percent of the people who win the lottery (millions of dollars) declare bankruptcy within five years. Due to dishonest motivations, seeking security from money rather than God, people with sudden unearned wealth often greatly mismanage the money.
Hebrews 13:5 urges us to “keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.” Gambling stirs discontentment, shifting our focus from what we don’t have instead of being thankful for what God has provided. This dissatisfaction kills gratitude and keeps us from truly praising God and trusting him.
What are the Dangers of Gambling According to the Bible?
Since through gambling we seek to satisfy our eternal need for security with something temporary, addiction becomes a significant danger. Gambling addiction leads to a destructive cycle of financial loss and relationship betrayal. Gambling opportunities are designed to get money from the gambler. Big winners are rare or else these places or organizations would get out of the business. Gamblers then lose money and go into debt through the process, but the excitement and risk give a false sense of purpose and happiness, leading to addiction.
1 Corinthians 6:12 says, “Everything is permissible for me—but I will not be mastered by anything.” The fruit of the Spirit includes godly self-control. In addiction, a behavior or substance controls us, placing us in chains when God died and rose for us to be free. We must be humble and continually take stock of what we allow to control us, even supposedly good things, not allowing anything other than Christ to have dominion over us.
Greed is a lie, telling us getting more money or things will make us happy. The opposite always happens. In Luke 12:15, Jesus lovingly warns people with this truth. “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Life exists in God alone, the only source of life. To seek life from any other activity, including money through gambling, we live in a lie.
Our eternal need can’t be satisfied with temporary things that will pass away. Ecclesiastes 5:10 shares the wisdom, “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This, too, is meaningless.” As countless wealthy people have testified to over the years, their wealth and abundance of possessions left them alone and hopeless.
The Bible equates greed with idolatry, where the desire for wealth takes priority over obeying God, which includes generosity and giving instead of self-accumulation. Jesus expresses this contrast in Matthew 6:24. “You cannot serve both God and money.” We can use money as a tool for good, but when it becomes the focus and goal, we worship it rather than God. When gambling takes precedence in our lives, it leads us away from faith.
How Does Gambling Conflict with Biblical Stewardship?
Gambling undermines God’s call to stewardship, responsibly managing our resources. Everything we have is a gift from God, and he expects us to manage those gifts with his wisdom, using our possessions and talents for his glory and to bless others. God’s blessings are never meant to stay with us. He means for blessings to flow through us to others. Gambling often encourages reckless, irresponsible, and selfish behavior.
As we’ve noted, Proverbs gives much wisdom about money and earning wealth. “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.” (Proverbs 21:10) This verse tells us to plan, save, and thoughtfully and intentionally use our resources for today and tomorrow. Saving puts hope in tomorrow, essentially loving our future selves, an eternal principle. In contrast, gambling promotes the idea of risk and waste to gain wealth quickly today rather than building wealth through diligent and careful work. The whole eternal perspective teaches us to invest today for tomorrow, to obey God in the now for his rewards later. Gambling is the opposite of this.
Part of being good stewards of our resources and investing in tomorrow includes being generous to others, especially those in need and the poor. Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” Love doesn’t think of itself but of others’ good. Correct stewardship includes considering how to bless people. Proverbs also includes a promise: “Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.” (Proverbs 28:27) God cares for the poor, and when we seek our own pleasure over their relief and encouragement, we are living in opposition to God and are cheating ourselves out of experiencing the fullness of his blessing. However, God promises we will never lack when we dignify and lift up the poor.
Faithful stewardship involves recognizing God as the source of all we have, and we trust he’s given us enough. In addition, he will hold us accountable for how we use those resources. Gambling contradicts this by creating a mindset of lack, insecurity, risk, and chance.
What Should Christians Consider before Gambling?
Many will think, “When I win the lottery, I’ll give most of it away.” And perhaps that may happen to some degree. However, the underlying issue remains that we don’t find our security in God, and do we generously give to the poor now? Do we risk scandalous generosity to the needy? If so, we would already trust God and not seek after more money, finding our contentment in Christ instead of being motivated by a mentality of lack and scarcity.
First, we recognize that God is the source of all goodness and provision (James 1:7). God’s promise to provide for us includes a condition—we seek first his eternal, heavenly Kingdom and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33). We then humbly examine our hearts and lives, asking the Spirit to reveal the true answers, however uncomfortable. Are we seeking his Kingdom first? Do we seek his righteousness instead of our own? Part of this self-examination includes looking at our actions and how we live this seeking out. This spiritual consideration reveals our own motives, including why we would want to gamble in the first place.
Second, we should be concerned with how gambling could result in losing control of our own lives. Gambling goes against God’s design for our lives, regular work and generosity through wise stewardship. Instead, the risk and danger of gambling can become addictive, especially the temptation of quick wealth, an empty promise. However permissible gambling might be, it wouldn’t be beneficial for us in the long run. Even when we win, we don’t ultimately win. We should wisely choose to avoid activities that might master us.
When gambling does begin to master us, it takes the rightful place of God and others. Greed is idolatry, not because we bow down to a statue of a dollar bill but due to the position of our hearts. The seeking of dishonest wealth, based on a lie, leads to dishonesty in other areas of life, like relationships with spouses and children or parents. Ultimately, our relationship with God suffers, as lies draw us away from truth.
How Should Christians Approach Financial Gain According to Scripture?
We have mostly dealt with warnings about gambling and dishonest gain of wealth up to this point. But God’s motivation with warning isn’t to hurt us or keep us from joy. Quite the opposite. He is a good Father who longs to give us good gifts. He wants to bless us and lead us to a sustainable abundance.
First, Scripture teaches to earn wealth through hard work and integrity. “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” (Proverbs 14:23) God promotes and dignifies hard work to provide for ourselves and those we love, and the Bible rejects any dishonest or unethical shortcuts to wealth. We’re called to pursue our livelihoods with honesty, perseverance, and integrity, knowing this pleases God and becomes a good witness to the Kingdom to the world.
In addition to hard work, our trust rests on God alone for our provision rather than luck or human effort. God promises to provide for us, and this frees us from stress and worry. “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows you need them.” (Matthew 6) Unbelievers seek after self-provision. As Jesus' followers, we seek the Kingdom and trust his love and care for us to provide what we need. This leads to satisfaction and contentment, a spiritual blessing even in the midst of difficult times (Philippians 4:13).
Our trust in the King and the Kingdom and our contentment allow us to be a blessing. God blesses those who seek to be a blessing. God gives generously from his riches, and as his children, we do the same and reveal a greater purpose to the world around us. By blessing others, we participate in his mission to spread the Good News, and God honors our generosity and hard work by providing for us.
God’s promise of security is about more than material provision. He gives us a secure and enduring peace, hope, and protection. When we trust him and give with open hearts, we experience him as the source of all we have. In giving, we receive God’s blessings, knowing he keeps us secure in him.
Peace.
Further Reading
Is Gambling a Sin? What Does the Bible Say?
Is Gambling a Sin in the Bible?
Is Gambling a Sin?
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