Is playing the lottery a sin?
No, it is not a sin, but it is not God’s best!
I remember when the lottery first came out in my hometown 30 years ago. I won $5.00 on my first try and I was so excited! In my excitement, I shut the car door forgetting my car keys were inside! Feeling embarrassed, I had to go back into the store and get someone with a hanger to get inside my car window and open the door. I thought, really, all this over $5.00. It quickly became no longer exciting after that.
When the lottery came out in my state, the explanation was it would be one way of supplying additional school funds. “According to Google, the state, for every $2 spent on a ticket through the North Carolina Educational Lottery, about $0.60 will end up going to schools. Most of the money you pay for the ticket goes to pay out prizes. And less than 1 percent of the purchase price goes to pay salaries and benefits of lottery staff. The money from the lottery is to raise supplemental money for public education.”
It is interesting that very little is being said today about the school aspect.
That being the case, what we hear most is about the Lottery Winners. How winning affects their lives. Some in a good way. Have you heard these phrases, “Somebodies got to win it.” Right? Let’s spend it. Lend it. Send it rolling along. It seems like those playing the lottery are looking for an escape or a better solution in a hurry. Since we live in a fallen world, everyone is looking to survive. We all need food, a place to live, clothes. But this is not how God created us to be; living in survival mode. In the beginning God blessed man saying, Genesis 1:22, “Be fruitful and multiply.” The lottery can be a temptation for most. But God’s best is not to get rich quick. Lottery is based on luck not soley on trusting God as your source.
The Word of God has more to say about finances than it does about heaven and hell. Jesus said trusting Him with our money was the least use of our faith.
Luke 16:10-13, 10, “He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest and unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not proved faithful in that which belongs to another [whether God or man], who will give you that which is your own [that is, the true riches]? 13 No servant is able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (riches, or anything in which you trust and on which you rely).”
If we can’t do that which is least, then we can’t do the greater things. This is very important.
This verse clearly shows that there is a right way and a wrong way to prosper. If we get wealth in the wrong way (according to God’s standards), it won’t last. But when our prosperity comes the right way, our finances are secure. What is the right way? This verse goes on to say that wealth that comes through labor will increase. There are no get-rich-quick schemes that come from God. God’s formula for financial success is work, work, work, and then spend less than you earn.
Two Bible translations of Proverbs 13:11 describe it best:
New Living Translation (NLT), “Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.”
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition, “Wealth [not earned but] won in haste or unjustly or from the production of things for vain or detrimental use [such riches] will dwindle away, but he who gathers little by little will increase [his riches].”
God’s word (Bible) is a guide for every area of our lives! We just need to obey His instructions. God knows everything you will ever need, and He has supplied before you have had the need.
Matthew 6:32-34, “For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow.”
“All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us” is a verse from the Bible, 2 Corinthians 1:20. We can tell God’s nature in His promises.
Philippians 4:19, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
These verses clearly reveal the heart of God is to prosper you! God wants to bless you. God gives the increase. God is the multiplier. He should be our source. Just like the branch gets nourishment from the vine. Jesus says He is the true Vine.
Some are managing your newfound wealth very nicely but given too much too quickly without managing properly can lead you back into the same sinking boat with even more debt.
Moses & Marguerite Wafula
wakeuptohope.blog/contact-donate.