Casting Lots

I was listening to a radio station last night when I heard a discussion come about whether gambling was a sin or not.  The host then started discussing how the disciples cast lots and said that there was no difference.  It boiled down to whether or not how the "christian" was able to handle gambling if it was a sin or not.

I wish I could have spoken to that person on the radio.  He is leading a lot of baby Christians astray.  It made me want to tell him that they need to know their Bible a little better before answering such a thing.  Didn't they know what casting lots was?  Did I know?  What IS the difference between gambling and casting lots?

Good, I'm glad you are curious too!

So I begin my journey in finding out the basic differences are in gambling vs casting lots.

Let's first define the words:

Casting Lots:  pebbles, straws, dice etc that were used in decision making.  They used this method to chance to make a fair decision so that no one could say there was favoritism involved.  Think of it this way, we toss a coin and say, "heads or tails" to determine who wins.  It is done this way to show impartiality.  Nothing is given up to to win a physical possession.

Gambling:  is the wagering of money or something of monetary value for a chance to win something in turn.  Do you see the difference here?  To gamble you have to give up something to have a chance to maybe win something in return.  To me gambling and casting lots are not the same. 

So as the question was asked on this radio show.... is gambling a sin?  While the word Gamble or gambling is not in the Bible, I do believe it tells us it is wrong.

So how do you start looking?  Since it deals with money, let's see what God says about money.

Ecclesiates 5:10, "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this [is] also vanity." 

God's word said we will not be satisfied with the increase.  We will always want more.

Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." 

If making more money is what drives you, it says here you can't serve God and money.

I Timothy 6:10, "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 

Gambling affects many homes.  Hard earned cash is used in hopes of getting more and sometimes lives are devastated because of that.  Can you honestly tell me that when you go gambling that you don't have a tiny bit of excitement within you that you "hope" to win more money?   It's only natural that you would think you would be the lucky one to win!  Once you win, there is a drive within you that wants you to win more.  This is greed.

God talks about coveting too.  So what is coveting?  Coveting is a longing or a desire for something.  So when a person gambles, isn't he desiring more money?  While Exodus 20:17 says "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour's.", it is essentially telling us that we should not desire to have something that is not ours. 

So how should we handle our money?

Read Matthew 25:14-30,

"For [the kingdom of heaven is] as a man travelling into a far country, [who] called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made [them] other five talents. And likewise he that [had received] two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, [thou] good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, [there] thou hast [that is] thine. His lord answered and said unto him, [Thou] wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and [then] at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give [it] unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

As one can see, the Lord gives us our "money/talents".  He expects us to increase it for his glory or his purpose, not for our own gain.  One day he will ask us how we used it and will you say, you gambled it all away instead of furthering his kingdom?