Is gambling a sin?

[*AQuietPlace*]

If so, why?

[pelathais]

You're taking a bit of a gamble here yourself by starting this thread.

[pelathais]

My take is that "gambling" is NOT a sin - but that "gaming" can be a real social problem and can be sinful.

When you think about it, just about everything we do in life involves some sort of risk. Thus most of life is really a gamble. Driving to work on the interstate is a gamble. Flying to another city in an airplane is a gamble.

If you read the fine print on your 401(k) plan you will see that it "involves risk..." I've known people who say investing in the stock market is a sin because it's "gambling."

In the Christian best-seller "In His Steps" by Charles Monroe Sheldon, one of the things that is "given up" by folks in the mythical town is trading in stocks because they decided that was a "sin." This is the book where the famous "WWJD" saying came from.

For myself, I have settled on something of the official government terminology here. Since by not gambling at all, what I'm really saying is "do nothing at all..." I have decided to try and summon up the courage needed to peek out from under the covers from time-to-time and even to venture out of doors on occasion. Of course, what really prompts me to do this is the fear that by staying in bed all day I am gambling with being struck by a meteor. "Better to be a moving target," I say.

"Gaming" is the term our society has chosen to use to describe that recreational pursuit of giving your money to strangers in exchange for an atmosphere of bright lights and loud noises. While perhaps not an out-and-out sin in and of itself, gaming is usually conducted in less than "family friendly" environments and the mark is often plied with alcohol to get him to more easily turn out his pockets.

I once put a quarter into a slot machine in a Nevada gas station that was marked "25¢." I pulled the lever and nothing happened. This was my first and only experience with a slot machine. I felt like I had been ripped off since nothing happened.

As I thought about it though, and looked at other machines; I realized that these were "dollar slots" and needed 4 quarters or a dollar bill. The "25¢" markings merely indicated where to insert the quarters. The flashing lights were so mesmerizing that I was beguiled out of my quarter. I was so embarrassed that I didn't return to the machine, but instead turned up my coat collar, paid the attendant for my gasoline and hurried out of the place.

I don't think this was a "sin" on my part, just stupid. But I must have found mercy because later I discovered a quarter on the ground in a parking lot.

[Falla39]

1Timothy 6:17-19

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Gambling would certainly come under "uncertain riches"! Taking a chance or a gamble! Paul is giving
Timothy a charge! Must be important!

Falla39

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by Falla39

1Timothy 6:17-19

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Gambling would certainly come under "uncertain riches"! Taking a chance or a gamble! Paul is giving
Timothy a charge! Must be important!

Falla39

With respect to you this is a stretch. If you are right then getting a raise on your job would also be uncertain riches. But the verses are talking about total trust in God.

I DO NOT think gambling is a sin, but is it being a good steward? Not all the time. I think where it can go wrong is when a person takes from their bills, grocery money, etc. I do gamble from time to time. Here is what I do. We occasionally go to Laughlin--mini Las Vegas and play. But this is only maybe 3times a year. We also save up for the trip. But if a person thinks it IS wrong then they should stay away.

[Tim Rutledge]

Originally Posted by Falla39

1Timothy 6:17-19

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Gambling would certainly come under "uncertain riches"! Taking a chance or a gamble! Paul is giving
Timothy a charge! Must be important!

Falla39

Say on Sister.

[gloryseeker]

Originally Posted by Falla39

1Timothy 6:17-19

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Gambling would certainly come under "uncertain riches"! Taking a chance or a gamble! Paul is giving
Timothy a charge! Must be important!

Falla39

While I don't advocate gambling I would disagree with your usage of scripture here.

First of all the scripture you are quoting is "trusting in" uncertain riches, which is the focus of the verse. One could game having entertainment value only (remember I don't advocate gambling) and not trust, expect, or place their reliance in gambling as get rich scheme.

Secondly, the verse talks about "riches" anyone with any common sense knows that those who are going to get rich is the casino. Yes, there are a few who hit it big, but the odds are so far against you that it to even think you are going to walk away a mega millionaire is just foolishness

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by Falla39

1Timothy 6:17-19

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Gambling would certainly come under "uncertain riches"! Taking a chance or a gamble! Paul is giving
Timothy a charge! Must be important!

Falla39

Uncertain riches to me would fall into the catagory of even the stock
market in some cases. Anyone played the stock market lately! Is it not
uncertain!

Primarily what I was thinking about, was many of the pyramid schemes
and the like. I know those who are always "gambling" on the latest net-
working pyramid scheme. The last one I knew about started with a busi-
ness man in a fairly large UPC church and he was supposely and may have
been, connected with the top men in the scheme. It was a sure thing! I
believe many had confidence in those who introduced this scheme, so they
invested. I would have hated to have been the one who introduced it.

To make a long story shorter, it resulted in many good men and women
in the "Church" losing thousands and thousands of dollars. Some had much
of the building of their new church facility depending on these "uncertain"
riches scheme. Many others, pastors and church people alike invested
their hard-earned money into this "sure" opportunity of a lifetime. Some
possibly thought it was possibly a "God-thing" to help His people.

You probably didn't hear about it because I'm pretty sure it was an em-
barrassment to many preachers and church people. The thing fell through
(as they usually do) and somebody reaped a harvest of money that could
possibly have gone to the missions field or for the furtherance of the needs
of their own churches.

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/04/042104.asp

Nuff said!

Falla39

[gloryseeker]

Originally Posted by Falla39

Uncertain riches to me would fall into the catagory of even the stock
market in some cases. Anyone played the stock market lately! Is it not
uncertain!

Primarily what I was thinking about, was many of the pyramid schemes
and the like. I know those who are always "gambling" on the latest net-
working pyramid scheme. The last one I knew about started with a busi-
ness man in a fairly large UPC church and he was supposely and may have
been, connected with the top men in the scheme. It was a sure thing! I
believe many had confidence in those who introduced this scheme, so they
invested. I would have hated to have been the one who introduced it.

To make a long story shorter, it resulted in many good men and women
in the "Church" losing thousands and thousands of dollars. Some had much
of the building of their new church facility depending on these "uncertain"
riches scheme. Many others, pastors and church people alike invested
their hard-earned money into this "sure" opportunity of a lifetime. Some
possibly thought it was possibly a "God-thing" to help His people.

You probably didn't hear about it because I'm pretty sure it was an em-
barrassment to many preachers and church people. The thing fell through
(as they usually do) and somebody reaped a harvest of money that could
possibly have gone to the missions field or for the furtherance of the needs
of their own churches.

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/04/042104.asp

Nuff said!

Falla39

I would agree with you in this post/explanation.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Falla39

Uncertain riches to me would fall into the catagory of even the stock
market in some cases. Anyone played the stock market lately! Is it not
uncertain!

Primarily what I was thinking about, was many of the pyramid schemes
and the like. I know those who are always "gambling" on the latest net-
working pyramid scheme. The last one I knew about started with a busi-
ness man in a fairly large UPC church and he was supposely and may have
been, connected with the top men in the scheme. It was a sure thing! I
believe many had confidence in those who introduced this scheme, so they
invested. I would have hated to have been the one who introduced it.

To make a long story shorter, it resulted in many good men and women
in the "Church" losing thousands and thousands of dollars. Some had much
of the building of their new church facility depending on these "uncertain"
riches scheme. Many others, pastors and church people alike invested
their hard-earned money into this "sure" opportunity of a lifetime. Some
possibly thought it was possibly a "God-thing" to help His people.

You probably didn't hear about it because I'm pretty sure it was an em-
barrassment to many preachers and church people. The thing fell through
(as they usually do) and somebody reaped a harvest of money that could
possibly have gone to the missions field or for the furtherance of the needs
of their own churches.

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/04/042104.asp

Nuff said!

Falla39

I have seen MANY people (in the church) get suckered into various pyramid schemes and multilevel marketing 'businesses'. It grieves me on many levels to see people so easily influenced by a slick sounding personality to buy into anything he or she says. Also, the trust among church members that is abused in order to propagate these schemes is bothersome also.
Dennis Lee used to go around hitting small farming towns throughout the Midwest, using religion as a selling tool, in order to get people to invest in his Free Energy machines which were always just a few months from being released to society. Start talking about The Lord, and suddenly people reasoning skills go out the window and they will 'buy' whatever is attached to it.