The Ultimate Gamble

There once was a man who prayed daily for God to let him win the lottery. Despite his persistent begging, nothing happened. Finally, after pestering the Lord one last time, this man heard a booming voice: “Give Me a break! Buy a ticket!”

People hoping to become instant millionaires spend billions yearly on lottery tickets. The biggest Powerball jackpot ever won was over $2 billion in 2022. Lottery officials had determined the odds of winning a large jackpot like that are 1 in 292.2 million. It’s been said that you are likelier to be struck by lightning than winning the lottery. Do you know anyone who got struck by lightning?


Years ago, Americans had to flock to places like Las Vegas and Atlantic City to gamble. Nowadays, there are state lotteries, sports betting, and casinos all over the country. During the early 1990s, I visited two casinos that just opened up in Minnesota. I had coupons redeemed for rolls of quarters. I played a few slot machines before quitting to avoid losing most of the money. My friend Jim recently went on a Mexican cruise and told me about a fellow passenger who played a $2.50 slot machine and won $50,000. If you do the math, you'll realize that 20,000 people before her played that one-armed bandit without winning anything.


The increase in gambling outlets has resulted in a sharp rise of “problem gamblers” ruining the lives of many families. Just like with alcohol consumption, some argue gambling is okay if done in moderation.


One might ask, “What about sweepstakes or drawings?” I don’t think it’s wrong to enter a sweepstakes if it doesn’t cost anything other than the postage stamp. For years, I entered the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes in hopes of hitting it big (but never did). I’ve heard testimonies of Christians having prayers answered through prize giveaways. I know of one church that gave away a shopping spree as an incentive to attract visitors. Many other churches have raffles or bingo games to raise money.


Winning a large jackpot will not necessarily solve someone’s problems. Most individuals who win a million dollars or more often find themselves where they were before financially within two years. Proverbs 28:22 in the New Living Translation says, “Greedy people try to get rich quick but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty.”


Some gamblers might point out that “casting lots” was a form of gambling permitted in the Bible. Examples of this include determining the scapegoat in Leviticus 16:10, the disobedience of Jonah (Jonah 1:7), and the eleven apostles choosing Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:26). Casting lots was used to determine God’s will, not for making money. Under the New Covenant, we depend on the Holy Spirit for guidance.


A friend told me about a French minister who once found himself stranded in Las Vegas and needed to return to Paris. The Lord instructed this minister to walk into a casino and put a coin in a particular slot machine. The minister hit a jackpot large enough to provide enough finances to return home. Proverbs 13:22 does say, “…the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.” However, I believe a better way for that to happen is for wealthy people to become born again.


Unless God specifically instructs you to walk into a casino or buy a particular lottery ticket, I believe it's best to avoid gambling. Otherwise, you are taking a chance with the money God entrusted to you used for the wrong purpose. Jesus said in Luke 4:12, “You shall not tempt the LORD your God.” Gambling can also lead to greediness. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”


If you’re still thinking about going to your local convenience store to buy a lottery ticket, ask yourself, “What is my motive for gambling?” Some believers claim, “If God lets me win the lottery, I will give a large portion of the money to the church.” What are you doing with the money you have right now? If you are not at least tithing, don’t expect God to help you become rich. Malachi 3:8 says that you are robbing God.


In Matthew 27:35 while Jesus was dying on the cross, the Roman soldiers gambled for His clothes by throwing dice. Many people today are gambling with their souls. Sometimes when I’m in a store and see someone buying a lottery ticket, I'll hand him a gospel tract and say, “Here’s something you don’t want to gamble with.” A person living his life without knowing whether he will end up in heaven or hell is like playing Russian roulette. The odds of entering into heaven without knowing Him are ZERO. Jesus said He’s the only way to eternal life (John 14:6).


Don’t gamble with eternity!


“You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is really an idolater who worships the things of this world.” - Ephesians 5:5 (NLT)

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