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NASB | Romans 14:22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 14:22 The faith which you have [that gives you freedom of choice], have as your own conviction before God [just keep it between yourself and God, seeking His will]. Happy is he who has no reason to condemn himself for what he approves. |
Bible Question: A group of girls I work with like to get together once a month or so to do something together. This month they have decided they want to go to a local casino. I do not feel comfortable there and could probably just beg off, but I feel that as a Christian, I need to give an answer for my convictions. What does the Bible specifically say about gambling? How can I answer their questions, especially since the one girl who had this idea is very vocal about her Christianity and needs to hear a Biblically based answer. Thanks for any help. |
Bible Answer: What does the Bible say about gambling? Is gambling a sin? 'Gambling can be defined as “risking money in an attempt to multiply the money on something that is against the odds.” The Bible does not specifically condemn gambling, betting, or the lottery. The Bible does warn us, however, to stay away from the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10; Hebrews 13:5). Scripture also encourages us to stay away from attempts to "get rich quick" (Proverbs 13:11; 23:5; Ecclesiastes 5:10). Gambling most definitely is focused on the love of money and undeniably tempts people with the promise of quick and easy riches. 'What’s wrong with gambling? Gambling is a difficult issue because if it is done in moderation and only on occasion, it is a waste of money, but it is not necessarily "evil." People waste money on all sorts of activities. Gambling is no more or less a waste of money than seeing a movie (in many cases), eating an unnecessarily expensive meal, or purchasing a worthless item. At the same time, the fact that money is wasted on other things does not justify gambling. Money should not be wasted. Excess money should be saved for future needs or given to the Lord's work - not gambled away. 'Casinos and lotteries: Casinos use all sorts of marketing schemes to entice gamblers to risk as much money as possible. They often offer inexpensive or even free alcohol, which encourages drunkenness, and thereby a decreased ability to make wise decisions. Everything in a casino is perfectly rigged for taking money in large sums and giving nothing in return, except for fleeting and empty pleasures. Lotteries attempt to portray themselves as a way to fund education and/or social programs. However, studies show that lottery participants are usually those who can least afford to be spending money on lottery tickets. The allure of "getting rich quick" is too great a temptation to resist for those who are desperate. The chances of winning are infinitesimal, which results in many peoples’ lives being ruined. 'Why lottery proceeds do not please God: Many people claim to be playing the lottery or gambling so that they can give the money to the church, or to some other good cause. While this may be a good motive, reality is that few use gambling winnings for godly purposes. Studies show that the vast majority of lottery winners are in an even worse financial situation a few years after winning a jackpot than they were before. Few, if any, truly give the money to a good cause. Further, God does not need our money to fund His mission in the world. Proverbs 13:11 says, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” God is sovereign and will provide for the needs of the church through honest means. Would God be honored by receiving donated drug money, or money stolen in a back robbery? Neither does God need or want money that was "stolen" from the poor by the temptation for riches. '1 Timothy 6:10 tells us, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." Hebrews 13:5 declares, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Matthew 6:24 proclaims, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."' 'Related Topics: 'What does the Bible say about Christian tithing? 'Is it a sin to play poker? 'Are tattoos/body piercings a sin? 'What is the definition of sin? 'What are the seven deadly sins?' ____________________ www.gotquestions.org/gambling-sin.html |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Rom 14:22 | Author | ||
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jk35603 | ||
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saltoftheearth | ||
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Wild Olive Shoot | ||
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prayon | ||
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kalos | ||
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humbleheart |