Why do you think a Christian should not gamble? What is the test of whether you should do something or not, gamble or not? Read on, and explore this important subject with me.
Here are some tests to help you determine what is right or wrong to do when it’s not clear:
Does it glorify God?
The Bible tells us that we must God in everything we do. You may agree or disagree with this, but that is what God wants from us. If you are an ambassador for America to another country, you must defend America and respect your country. The same is true if we call ourselves Christians. We can’t be like that if we don’t honor God in what we say and do. That’s hypocrisy, and you know what the world thinks about it.
Does it glorify God for you to spend the money God allows you to gamble? Not. The Bible also says that God has given each of us the power to make money. But if we throw money at gambling, it doesn’t show much wisdom on our part. Those machines or whatever you do in the casino or elsewhere are set up to make money for the people behind them. So basically you are wasting your money doing this.
Does it hurt other people?
The reason why Christians don’t gamble seems to cause the most controversy. The Bible tells us in Romans that we must take care of others whenever we do something. This lesson verse talks about eating food offered to idols but the overall lesson applies to anything we do. For example, when my wife and I first married, we knew an unbelieving couple went to a restaurant that served alcoholic beverages. Even though neither of us drank, in their minds it was wrong to go to a restaurant that served these items. So if we persist and take them there, the Bible will call it tripping them up, and possibly ruining their relationship with God.
Let’s say you are a strong Christian and you can handle gambling without hurting you spiritually. But someone who is a weaker Christian sees you in a casino or anywhere involved in gambling.
They are weaker in faith and may have problems keeping from overdoing it in this area. So having you there, it might encourage them to gamble and have some bad luck.
Where did the money go?
The money you spend in casinos is not for Christians, but for Indians, and other people who are most likely not Christians or they would not be in the business. Basically, the money is for the enemy, Satan, or someone who is not a believer. So by spending your money there in any way, you are helping to commit a crime. You may not agree with this comment because you like to gamble and you may think I am too shortsighted. But if you really think about it and pray about it, you will see the truth in it.
Even if you go to entertainment or go out to eat or to a sporting event or concert at a casino or whatever you are still feeding the enemy your money God has given you. Of course God wants us to enjoy ourselves, but not everyone respects God in this world.
your witness
If you tell your friends and family that you are a Christian and then still gamble, what difference does that make to the world? The Bible says that we must be light in the darkness so that others see God in us. If you go gamble and worldly people go gamble, what’s the difference between you. You set a bad example. You can’t tell your friends and family not to do this if you do. That’s also hypocrisy. Are you a true Christian or a hypocrite? This goes for anything, smoking, etc. You can’t tell other people not to do what you do. Then you are a bad example and your testimony as a Christian does not exist.
Would Jesus do it?
If you study the Bible, you will see how Jesus acted alone. So it will give you a good idea if He is going to do the thing you are contemplating. Of course, you could say He would do it as an excuse to do it, but if you are really sincere, you will search the scriptures and find out if it is worth doing what you have planned after much prayer.
For example, will Jesus find his own way regardless of whether it hurts others? No, because Jesus had humility and He put His Father’s will above His. He came not to hurt people, but to help them by saving them from their sins. There is a great book on this subject called In His Steps, which will show you how to decide whether Jesus would do a certain thing. You can find them at Bible bookstores or online. Sometimes they have specials when you can get a copy for about five dollars or less.
Pray about what you have read in this article and listen to what God has to say about it. Ultimately, you are accountable to God for what you do and say. None of us know when Jesus will return, but He will, so do you want to gamble when He comes? Talk about embarrassing to say the least. Remember that the world is watching everything you do and say to see what God means to you and whether they want to have what you have. What examples did you show them?
