Is It Okay To Play The Lottery?  Isaiah 65:11–12 says, “But you who forsake the Lord, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter, because, when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my eyes and chose what I did not delight in.”

1. Current Concerns about Playing the Lottery
2. Culture’s Answers to Playing the Lottery

The government on the one hand, they say that they want to help the poor. But, on the other hand, the vast majority of people who play the lottery are low income earners. III. God’s Answer to Playing the Lottery Gambling is not simply taking a risk. Where there is a reasonable, manageable risk, you do not have gambling. Five biblical reasons why playing it is wrong.

1. Because It Denies the Reality of God’s Sovereignty

it denies the reality of God’s sovereignty and affirms the existence of luck or chance.  Psalm 103:19  “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.” Psalm 47:4a “He chooses our inheritance for us.” Deuteronomy 8:18a, “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth.” Daniel 4:24–25, “This is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” Isaiah 65:11–12 says, “But you who forsake the Lord, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter, because, when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my eyes and chose what I did not delight in.” Fortune comes from the Hebrew word gad and it means luck, usually good luck. Destiny comes from the Hebrew word meni and it means back luck. Faith in God and faith in luck are mutually exclusive ideas.

1. Because It Is Built on Irresponsible Stewardship

Psalm 24:1 teaches us, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” Psalm 50:10–12, “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. ‘If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.’” 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Playing the lottery is an irresponsible stewardship of the money God has entrusted to you.

1. Because It Erodes a Biblical Work Ethic

It devalues and displaces hard work as the proper means for one’s livelihood. Genesis 2:15 says that “the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Genesis 3:19, “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”  Proverbs 12:11“Those who work their land will have abundant food.” But the verse goes on to say in verse 11b, “but those who chase fantasies have no sense.” Is there any greater fantasy than playing the lottery? People who play the lottery have no sense. Ephesians 4:28  “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” Colossians 3:17  “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10b “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” 1 Timothy 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

1. Because It Is Driven by the Sin of Covetousness

Exodus 20:17  “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s” Luke 12:15, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Philippians 4:11b-12, “… for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” The antidote to covetousness is contentment.

1. Because It Is Built on the Exploitation of Others

the lottery often takes advantage of poor people who think they can gain wealth instantly. It encourages the continual erosion of financial resources. It increases debt. It leads to increased poverty. And in some instances, it leads to suicide. 20% of addictive gamblers have attempted suicide. The suicide rate of spouses of compulsive gamblers is 150 times the national average. Playing the lottery is wrong because it is built on the exploitation of others by often taking advantage of poor people who think they can gain wealth instantly.