Gambling

What does the bible say about gambling and how can one get delivered?

Gambling is symptomatic of a love of money. It is fundamentally a deception that says if you have money, you will be satisfied. Satan is a liar and deceiver.

Part of gambling's attraction is the prospect of being a winner. It feels good to win, as any athlete will tell you. If people feel good, they will become addicted to the feeling, no matter what produces the feeling.

To be delivered first requires the gambler to admit that they have a problem. Many who gamble see nothing wrong with it and it may not significantly affect their lifestyle. Christians should know better. We should ask God to set us free. You may need to confess to another Christian. (James 5:16)

I don't think the Bible says anything specifically about gambling, but it says a lot about the best ways to live life. It talks a lot about being sober-minded. Any addiction has a way of clouding your mind so you can't see clearly.

If I want to get delivered from something, I pray and ask God to help me. Then I listen to what He says. What He tells you to do may not be easy, but it will be the best thing for you.

Are you asking for yourself? If so, why do you gamble, if I may ask? If you know why you gamble, then you're on the way to finding better ways to deal with your circumstances. You need to live in reality; gambling isn't a reality-based solution.

My husband is the one with the problem. We've had financial issues because of that like late rent payments, getting into short term loans to meet daily expenses etc. He does it in secret. Whenever I confront him, he down plays the problem. But I know the problem is bigger than he cares to admit.

i'm sorry, dear heart.

we have a prayer requests forum you might want to avail yourself of. the people who frequent it won't necessarily see this here, and i know many would feel it a privilege to pray for you, should you decide to ask. ♥

(ps-- is your husband a believer?)

I see. I'll pray for you both. Glad you're here; hope you can find some answers.

no where in the Bible does it say, "thou shall not gamble". there certainly are teachings on how excessive gambling is sin & compulsive. the phillistinic & profligate spending of money is sin. i buy a scratch ticket about every 3 months. responsible management of money is to be Godly 1st: tithe, pay bills, save for future, help others & enjoy God's gift of money!

agree on all of this except the tithe, that is a Old Testament thing...

my church has a theme similar to yours- : give first, save next, live on the rest".

when i say tithe, i don't mean 10% as the old testament was. i give cheerfully & willingly.

Christians should take heed when it comes to gambling, making sure the motivation is not rooted in the love of money.

Thank you so much. I'll definitely join the prayer forum. My husband is a believer but stopped going to church. He has church "wounds". ..... there's a time he was very low in cash and gave his last coin as an offering. The pastor there after came to the pulpit to lecture those that were not giving "well" claiming the Storehouse is empty. Ever since he's never stepped into church. I miss the days we used to go to church together.

Thank you 🫶

Not always.

It can and normally is a form of escapism.
I should know as I was a severe gambler and it wasn't because I loved money.
In fact I was just as miserable when I won and lost.

So please let's not assume other wise as the general.

It can be the affect of cause.
In my case severe childhood trauma.

Hi @BillG , that's an interesting take you have there. If you don't mind, I'd like to know how you overcame it?

Certainly that can be the case. I gambled for the same reason. But vast numbers of people, at least in Australia, gamble in the hope of getting rich. The world sells the false dream that riches mean happiness. The love of money is still the root of evil.

Hi @SophieJoy.

Just a short background.
My childhood blighted sexual abuse at a very early age, my mum threw me out of the house and I was fostered by a Christian family only to be sexually abused by my foster dad in my teenage years.

This led to severe anxiety gambling and drinking and bitterness.

I came to the realisation that I had to forgive.
Our father in heaven walked with me in doing this.
My relationship with my mum was restored, I was at my foster dads deathbed and I sorted out his estate.

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.
Lewis B. Smedes

Let's all live by the above quote.

God bless you.

Amen! Thank you so much for sharing. We thank God for restoration. A very important lesson on forgiveness too. Thank you so much for being open and vulnerable. Revelation 12:11. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.