God's church has long understood that it is not the thing that is wrong, but the wrong use of the thing that results in sin. Gambling is often the lazy person's solution of getting out of work or debt or 'striking it rich quick.' The fruit of such schemes-neglect of family, poverty, divorce, theft, etc.-show they should be avoided ( Matthew 7:16 Galatians 6:7-8).Ĭards, dice, games of chance, and the like, are not inherently wrong. The Bible frequently warns against laziness, indolence, and sloth (see, e.g., Proverbs 6:6-11 18:9 19:15 20:4 21:25-26 24:30-34 26:13-16 etc.) because God Himself is a planning, creating, working Being who puts His all into everything He does and expects the same from us ( Ecclesiastes 9:10). Gambling is often seen as a way to get something for nothing or without working for it.

He writes, 'If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat' ( II Thessalonians 3:10). The apostle Paul mentions another principle that applies to gambling: the work ethic. The Bible says that those who have this attitude will not inherit the Kingdom of God ( I Corinthians 6:10 Ephesians 5:3-5), and I Timothy 6:9-10 warns against falling into the trap of lusting after riches. When the attitude of greed is present, the activity is wrong regardless of the value of the wager. A Christian should not desire to increase his own wealth by depriving someone else. This cannot be done when we are competing in a coveting attitude for another man's things, as in a bet. Jesus explains that the second greatest commandment is that we are to love our neighbor as ourself ( Matthew 22:39). Therefore, any activity that is based upon covetousness is sin.

One of these commandments is that we must not covet, or wrongfully desire another's possessions ( Exodus 20:17). The Bible defines sin as the transgression of God's spiritual law, the Ten Commandments ( I John 3:4).

What does jesus say about gambling