And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32

Gambling is a curse on American society. Big money interests are willing to spend millions to make hundreds of millions. The poor and would-be-rich are deceived into thinking their dreams will come true and their problems will be solved with just one lucky streak. All the while these allurements draw the deceived into traps that often lead to even greater problems. Read 1 Timothy 6:6-10.

Gambling is defined "to play games of chance for money or some other stake; to take a risk in order to gain some advantage; to bet, wager; an act or undertaking involving risk of a loss." Although the Bible does not specifically mention the sin of gambling, this vice is condemned by several scriptural principles. We will examine just a few.

No one has the right to foolishly risk by the evil practice of gambling what rightfully belongs to Jehovah. We and all that we possess belong to him according to Psalms 50:10-12 and Haggai 2:8. Christians are obligated to operate as good, faithful and wise stewards (1 Peter 4:10; Luke 12:42). Gambling violates this New Testament principle of the golden rule (Matthew 7:12). The practice of "might makes right" which the gambler practices is wrong even though the neighbor through weakness gives his consent. It makes havoc of the injunction "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matthew 22:39).

Third, just a casual glance will show us that gambling promotes laziness and quenches the desire for hard work. The gambler seeks to obtain that for which someone else worked. Second Thessalonians 3:10 teaches us that a Christian will work for his bread.

The Christian must say with Paul: "I will not be brought under the power of any" (1 Corinthians 6:12). Gambling is highly addictive. According to the U.S. Department of Public Health there are an estimated six million compulsive gamblers in this country.

Gambling sets an evil example which a servant of Christ must not do (Romans 12:17). It breeds dishonesty and deceit as gamblers resort to crime to finance their wicked habit. In Reno, Nevada the police department estimates that 75% of their embezzlement cases are gambling related. "Truly a corrupt tree produces corrupt fruit" (Matthew 7:17-18).

Gambling has never contributed to the betterment of humankind, but to the contrary has been responsible for much evil. Christians will totally avoid the practice and expose it as a godless work of darkness (Ephesians 5:11).