GAMBLING A Thorny Issue

Couples in Christ

GAMBLING
A Thorny Issue

I grew up in a big family, where most of our entertainment was by necessity creative and cheap. One of my favorite things to do with my brother and our friends was to make a game out of things. We’d play two-on-two basketball and put a wager on who would win; usually the prize was an RC Cola and Babe Ruth candy bar. We’d play “penny ante” poker, usually five card stud, and sometimes make 50 cents for the evening. It was a lot of fun. Even today I enjoy office “sports pools” occasionally - do you?

So, when can “I’ll race you home for a quarter” turn into a thorny issue? The guy on the right seems really weighted down with his profit, doesn’t he? Is he in trouble? Let’s look at this issue of gambling from a Biblical perspective.

As with many of God’s principles, the crux of the matter is my attitude - which way I “lean”. If I lean toward God, if pursuing Him and His ways drives my ambitions, He is pleased and is not legalistic in His dealings with me. But if I lean away from Him, frequently seeking to rationalize or justify attitudes or actions which He warns can lead to problems, I forfeit His peace and can even incur His judgement.

One example of this principle is in the drinking of alcoholic beverages. The drinking by itself is not wrong; it is not condemned by God in the Bible. But what it can lead to is given as a stern warning by Him. It’s interesting to note in the Old Testament that every time that God called a person for a special purpose, He clearly instructed him/her to abstain from “strong drink”. The implication is that the risk, considering our human weaknesses, is too great. God wants us to live pure, holy lives.

Isaiah 65 illustrates this principle in relation to gambling. Speaking about God’s chosen people,

Israel, we are told that God has a “new heaven and new earth” in store for them (us), with abundant provisions, peaceful valleys, etc. (verses 1 - 10). But the people got disoriented and lost sight of this direction.

“But you who forsake the Lord, who forget My holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune, and who fill cups with mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you for the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter, because I called but you did not answer; I spoke but you did not hear. And you did evil in my sight, and chose that in which I did not delight.” (Isaiah 65:11-12)

And so it’s a series of wrong choices that can lead to separation from God, and cause Him to withdraw His blessings from us. Gambling (a “table for fortune”) can do this.

The literal interpretation of the phrase “set a table for Fortune” is to “arrange a place to entertain Gad (the Aramean god of luck)”. In other words, plans are made to sit down and “feast” on luck, counting on it to feed you. Similarly, the interpretation of “fill cups with mixed wine for Destiny” is to “mix in luck with good sense (mix wine with water) in pursuit of provision (Meniy, or “Fate”). If you ask yourself the question, “Is God pleased with this?”, it’s hard to answer “yes”. God is pleased when He alone is our resource and our pursuit.

There are two additional noteworthy guidelines in the Bible that help us understand God’s attitude toward gambling. The first deals with the value of the “riches” obtained

“Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!” (James 5:2-3)

The riches mentioned here are not exclusively those obtained via wager. Any “riches” we have which direct our focus away from God become our enemy, even our “idol”. 1 John 5:21 says to “guard yourselves from idols”. An old Chinese proverb puts it this way, “If you own anything which you can’t give away, it owns you”.

The second guideline deals with the impact our actions have on others. Whether we like it or not, those around us are affected by what we say and do. The strength of this influence increases progressively in the following settings:

· Christian to Christian

· Family relationships (especially parent to child)

· Teacher to student (especially when the teacher is a Christian who is teaching or leading other Christians).

Romans 14:21 says, “It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles”. In other words,

Christian leaders must be especially careful with this second guideline!

We should not gamble (in any form), when, in the view of our brother or sister, it is wrong. Further, we should not place ourselves in situations where we have the “appearance” of gambling, if this also would cause a brother or sister to stumble.

God grants to us discretion in matters such as this. Ask Him for a clear conscience, and then do what He tells you is O.K. to do, in agreement with His word.

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