GIF It’s Just Entertainment

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
(Philippians 2:4 NIV)

It’s Just Entertainment
by Chuck Bentley

Some people say gambling is just entertainment, like fishing, seeing a movie, or going to a baseball game. But when you win at gambling, you do so at many other people’s expense.

Gambling really boils down to self-gratification. It’s the thrill that you could hit the jackpot at any time. And, if you win, you don’t have to look at all those other people who lost.

Another myth regarding gambling is that you’re doing it to become rich so you can give more to the church. But our focus should be on good stewardship of the money we currently have, not on dreams of what we might win at gambling. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16:10 NIV).

Be faithful with what you have and trust God to multiply your efforts, no matter how small, for His glory. Focus on laying up treasures in heaven, not on earth (Matthew 6:19-21).

Don’t believe the lie that gambling is good for society. If you invest in a successful company that’s making advances in medical technology, you’re putting your money into something that has intrinsic value. Jobs are created, you receive returns on your investment, and patients benefit from the products that the company creates. It’s a win-win situation. But if you invest in gambling and hit the jackpot, it’s a winning situation for you and a losing situation for all the others.

What about the argument that money from lotteries goes to support education? Let’s go back to the example of the medical manufacturer cited above. Products that help others have intrinsic value. But there is no intrinsic value in the act of taking money that people lost and making ourselves feel better about it by putting it into education.

It would be much better to fund education by investing in a product with intrinsic value—something that would benefit others in the process of providing for educational needs.

Daily Scripture Reading: 

Ezekiel 37-39