Lotto advice
THE BUG HAS BITTEN
Lately our country has been locked in a frenzy of unparalleled gambling, namely the LOTTO fever. So much so that it has had effect on the economy and spending patterns of people.
If you are a Christian, I hope that you do not take part in any form of gambling, but I urge you to read on, because we must be able to answer this spirit of the time.
Even as Christians we must realize that we also can be tempted and must know to use the truth of the Word as a weapon against such onslaughts. How easy it is to let thoughts into your head about how to make a quick million or two and be misled by Satan to become another casualty and cause yourself so much sorrow.
WHY SO QUIET?
When it comes to the evil of gambling (including the LOTTO) the church in general is very quiet and even hesitant to talk about it.
The possible reason for this is that there is no specific text that says: "Thou shalt not gamble", but remember that there are also no texts that are against the smoking of dagga, the use of ecstasy or a thousand other evils. God treats us as grown up thinking children and gives us clear principles so that we can judge each situation for ourselves, such as the case of the LOTTO. The Bible is not an encyclopaedia which lists all the various sins.
Another reason that the church is silent, is the extent of the participation of members of congregations in the evil of gambling. Unfortunately the church has become to scared to speak out prophetically against the sins of the times, out of fear that it will become unpopular.
WHAT IS GAMBLING?
To answer this question, we must not split ends. Gambling is the trust in pure luck, there is no control, guidance, insight or reason involved. Pure luck. A haphazard pursuit. John Macarthur's definition can be used as a guideline: "Gambling is one or other game or activity, on which a person places money or anything else of value, in the hope, that by coincidence or chance, out of his control or any rational expectation, there is a chance of winning something more valuable."
IS IT REALLY WRONG?
Let us examine just two of the arguments put forward that the LOTTO does good:
People say: "It goes towards a good cause, part of the money goes to welfare organizations." This is a dishonest and illogical argument. Dishonest, because if it was the primary reason of participating, why not give the money directly to the needy and deserving organizations. Illogical, because to do it via the LOTTO, only a small portion of your R2.50 ends up in the coffers of the organizations. For every Christian it must be very clear that this is an unbiblical way of giving. The Biblical way is to give without expecting something in return.
Some want to justify it Biblically by the fact that the Word uses the casting of lots on occasions. The way in which the Bible uses the casting of lots, was a way in which God displayed His will to His people. It was used in serious matters and was used as recognition that God makes the final decision. The last time the Bible records this fact is in the appointment of Matthias as the replacement of Judas as apostle (Acts 1.26). Here it shows that Jesus was and still has direct involvement as Lord of His church in such serious matters. After the pouring out of the Holy Spirit we no longer read of the casting of lots because it is no longer necessary: the Holy Spirit now leads the church through the Word (as in the choosing of the seven deacons in Acts 6). To use the casting of lots to find the holy will of God, as an excuse or to justify gambling to fulfil the greed of man, does not make sense. This shows typically how sinful man twists Gods Word to fit his own lustful desires.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
A few Biblical principles about the question of gambling:
Gambling does not acknowledge the sovereignty of God, as it is proof that sinful man has faith in risk, chance, fortune, and destiny. Fortune or chance is an anti-God idea. It does not exist. Concepts like luck and chance are inventions of sinful man that does not want to acknowledge the almighty and sovereign God is in control of His creation. There is an interesting passage in Isaiah 65.11-12, which gives us some insight on the question of fortune and destiny: ‘But as for you who forsake the Lord and forget my holy mountain, who spread a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny, …..’(NIV). These descriptions have probably been translated as nouns as these were Canaanite gods (Gad – god of ‘fortune’ and Meni, god of ‘destiny’). The association of these concepts (fortune, destiny, fate) with idolatry is clear. To put your trust, your future, your existence, your happiness and security, your success in chance, destiny, or anything other than in the living God, is idolatry. If I believe that God is God, then I cannot and should not place my hope on chance or destiny. This is precisely what a gambler does. It does not mean a denial of God but it is idolatry.
Gambling is built on the sin of materialism, greed and discontentment.
| Those that say that the LOTTO is just a game, lie. It's all about greed. It plays on the materialistic cord of man. |
The appeal of gambling lies in the fact that you can become rich quickly and easily. The craze for gambling is nothing other than the love of money – and this is the root of all evil (1 Tim 6.10). Remember that Jesus warned against greed (Luke 12.15). Gambling can also be a symptom of discontentment; I am dissatisfied with what God has given me. Gambling breaks the tenth commandment. It is also a form of loving the world, ‘the cravings of sinful man’ (1 John 2.15-17)
Gambling is a matter of bad stewardship. It comes from the irresponsible handling of the possessions that God has entrusted us to manage to His honour. The Christian can never say: "It’s my money, I can do with it as I please." Everything that we have, has come from God. The R2.50 that you waste, is God’s R2.50!
Gambling is based on the exploitation of other people, which is nothing more than theft. It results in (if you are a winner) the acquiring of other peoples possessions at their expense. It is especially the undisciplined, the poor and the gullible that are exploited. A part of your winnings could be part of the last money of someone who cannot work with his money that should have put bread on the table. By winning the LOTTO, you are stealing from the losers.
The propaganda of gambling is based to mislead. The adverts give people false hope. All the focus is on the winners, nothing is said about the millions of losers, who, week after week get poorer. The whole industry is driven by subtle propaganda based on a lie. It is a world of illusion and mirages. It is all a fantasy. They ‘chase fantasies’ (Proverbs 12.11). To play the LOTTO is foolish!
| You have the same chance of winning the LOTTO as being bitten by a shark on dry land. 1 |
Gambling undermines the God given order that man must work. Work is judged as being positive. See Ephesians 4.28 and 2 Thessalonians 3.10. God gave the order that we must populate and work the earth. He created us with reason and the abilities to accomplish that. This is the main manner (it is also naturally in order to inherit, or receive gifts, etc) in which He decided to supply our needs and so enjoy the good things in life.
Gambling is addictive and therefore undesired by a Christian. Someone will say: "As a Christian am I not free to do with my money as I want?" This saying ‘I can do what I want, everything is allowed’, was probably also heard in the congregation of Corinth as Paul echoes it in his letter (1 Corinthians 6.12) and carries on: ‘but not everything is beneficial’ (there is no positive benefit in the LOTTO for a Christian, so why do you want to take part in it?), ‘…. but I will not be mastered by anything.’ The power of the addiction to gambling is well known. This fact alone should flash warning lights. Do you think that you are above this? Those that stand must careful that they do not fall.
ALTERNATIVES
We read in Jeremiah 2.13:’My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.’
As such, this passage is not about gambling. But the principle is the same. Because people have forsaken God, they have tried to find other alternatives to supply their security and peace. In our day one of these alternatives is gambling. An alternative which only leads to disappointment.
Gambling is more than a trivial sin, it is normally a symptom of a deeper problem, namely a broken relationship with God. |
Gambling is a characteristic of a world governed by post-modern pessimism, which reasons that: ‘There is no order, reason and meaning, you just have to blindly hope for the best.’ Gambling is associated with the helplessness of an existence without God, the result of atheism, which says: ‘There is no God, no hope, no future – everything is just fate and destiny, just see what life can offer you.’ Gambling is just another action that the materialistic person takes so that he can live for himself, for the here and now.
No form of gambling fits in with the citizens of God’s kingdom. For the people who find their peace in the sovereign rule and care of their Father, it is foolishness. More than this though, it is a sin to be avoided! Also concerning the gambling craze, we must not be conformed to this world, but seek what is Gods perfect will for us (Romans 12.1-2).
Our greatest weapon against the temptation to gamble is that we delight ourselves in our spiritual and heavenly riches. If we look and see what God has provided for us in Jesus, like forgiveness, being a child of God, Godly Father provision, an eternal inheritance, then the Lotto's (apparent) millions will look dull in comparison. Is it perhaps because you have not yet seen the riches in Jesus and therefore not been able to take your inheritance, that you still gamble?
Do you play the LOTTO? I am not judging you, but invite you to submit yourself fully to the rule of Jesus Christ, to experience His forgiveness and share in His riches. Your LOTTO craving will then disappear by itself.
JOHANNES DE KONING
1 Quoted by John Macarthur, whose sermon was the main source of this tract.