December 20, 1997 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) -- A new study has proven that the increase in lotteries and casinos and other forms of government-sponsored gambling has dramatically increased the number of compulsive gamblers. The Harvard Medical School study, which analyzed data covering the last two decades, found that roughly four million adults in Canada and the U.S. suffer from "pathological gambling." This is almost double the number which existed before the explosion of casinos and lotteries in the late 1970s (Derrick DePledge, Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Dec. 5, 1997). Pathological gamblers were defined as "people who are obsessively drawn to betting, often ignoring their own financial risk by bankrolling their wagers on credit or fraud." The authors of the study ignored people with less severe gambling problems.

Harvard professor Howard Shaffer noted that the growth in compulsive gambling among adults is linked to the emergence of gambling as an accepted part of America's entertainment culture. According to a study financed by Harrah’s casinos, about one-third of U.S. households gambled at a casino in 1996.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

The Bible repeatedly warns against seeking easy wealth. Covetousness is a sin that is placed in the same category as immorality. In fact, God's Word calls it idolatry, because it puts the things of this world in the place of God in one's heart. "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and COVETOUSNESS, WHICH IS IDOLATRY" (Col. 5:3). God instructs His people, rather, to seek to be contented with basic needs and to focus on serving Him and laying up treasures in Heaven --

"Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven" (Prov. 23:4,5).

"Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain." (Prov. 30:8,9).

"Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase" (Prov. 13:11).

"Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit" (Ecc. 6:9).

"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep" (Ecc. 5:10-12).

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness" (1 Timothy 6:6-11).

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Hebrews 13:5,6).

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).

The philosophy behind gambling and lotteries is 180 degrees contrary to these biblical injunctions. The lotteries encourage covetousness. They create a lust for easy riches. They mock contentment. The message of the lottery is that wealth would solve your problems and end your difficulties.

The Bible exposes the lottery for the lie that it is.

It is a bad testimony for a Christian to commit himself and his money to "Lady Luck." Our faith is in our Saviour God who has promised never to leave nor forsake us. Let the world, which is stumbling in darkness, trust the mythical "Lady Luck." We are not in darkness that we should participate in such folly. We know the One who is in control of the circumstances of our lives, and it is NOT Lady Luck!

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

See also "Lottery Fever."