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Gambling is not, in and of itself, evil (1 Corinthians 6:12, 10:23).
12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (1 Corinthians 6:12)
23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. (1 Corinthians 10:23)
Note that this obviously doesn't apply to anything explicitly forbidden in the Bible (and hence it does apply to gambling, since gambling isn't explicitly forbidden). So, gambling may be lawful, but it may not be helpful, and it may not edify. Note how the NAS translates verse 23.
23 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. (1 Corinthians 10:23 NAS)
"[N]ot all things are profitable" seems to sum up gambling pretty well. Nonetheless, profitable or not, a godly person could gamble and not sin (Titus 1:15).
15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. (Titus 1:15)
That said, it is good not "to do anything by which your brother stumbles," and gambling is a matter of "your own conviction before God." Note the following.
16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; (Romans 14:16)
21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. 22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith ; and whatever is not from faith is sin. (Romans 14:12-23)
1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. (Romans 15:1)
Moreover, only "a foolish man squanders" riches.
20 There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it. (Proverbs 20:21)
Why?
19 He who tills his land will have plenty of food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty. (Proverbs 28:19)
Moreover, "[y]ou cannot serve God and mammon."
10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Luke 16:10-13)
So, gambling is not inherently evil, but the desire for riches and the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10) is covetousness and greed (Colossians 3:5), which is idolatry (Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5), and has led some to much grief and even away from the faith (1 Timothy 6:10)!
9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:9-10)
5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have ; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," (Hebrews 13:5)
5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (Ephesians 5:5)
5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. (Colossians 3:5)
So the real sin is not gambling but rather the reason or motive behind it and whether you are squandering your riches. In moderation, as a form of entertainment without any motive of greed or addiction (1 Corinthians 6:12), it can be lawful. Remember, "the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts."
9 "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. (1 Chonicles 28:9)
12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (1 Corinthians 6:12)
23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. (1 Corinthians 10:23)
Note that this obviously doesn't apply to anything explicitly forbidden in the Bible (and hence it does apply to gambling, since gambling isn't explicitly forbidden). So, gambling may be lawful, but it may not be helpful, and it may not edify. Note how the NAS translates verse 23.
23 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. (1 Corinthians 10:23 NAS)
"[N]ot all things are profitable" seems to sum up gambling pretty well. Nonetheless, profitable or not, a godly person could gamble and not sin (Titus 1:15).
15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. (Titus 1:15)
That said, it is good not "to do anything by which your brother stumbles," and gambling is a matter of "your own conviction before God." Note the following.
16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; (Romans 14:16)
21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. 22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith ; and whatever is not from faith is sin. (Romans 14:12-23)
1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. (Romans 15:1)
Moreover, only "a foolish man squanders" riches.
20 There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it. (Proverbs 20:21)
Why?
19 He who tills his land will have plenty of food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty. (Proverbs 28:19)
Moreover, "[y]ou cannot serve God and mammon."
10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Luke 16:10-13)
So, gambling is not inherently evil, but the desire for riches and the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10) is covetousness and greed (Colossians 3:5), which is idolatry (Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5), and has led some to much grief and even away from the faith (1 Timothy 6:10)!
9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:9-10)
5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have ; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," (Hebrews 13:5)
5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (Ephesians 5:5)
5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. (Colossians 3:5)
So the real sin is not gambling but rather the reason or motive behind it and whether you are squandering your riches. In moderation, as a form of entertainment without any motive of greed or addiction (1 Corinthians 6:12), it can be lawful. Remember, "the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts."
9 "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. (1 Chonicles 28:9)
S
Yeah that's what I was thinking. I was just wondering because some churches I've been in people talk about gambling like it's a sin straight from hell. It does seem like most casinos don't exactly attract the best people, but then some of the nicest people I've known were gamblers so idk. I guess it's about moderation like you said.
