I received a question from one of my readers here in Becoming Christians. Here's what she said:
I have a question for you.
My daughter keeps buying lottery tickets, we argue about it.
Can you help me in understanding why it's wrong or ok to buy lottery tickets according to the bible? I can have her read your answer.
I thank you.
Here's my response:
Thank you for reaching out with your question. It's always challenging when we face disagreements with our loved ones, especially when it comes to matters of faith and everyday practices.
The Bible doesn't explicitly mention buying lottery tickets, but we can derive principles from Scripture to understand why it might not be the best choice for a Christian. Here are a few points to consider:
- Trust in God's Provision: The Bible teaches us to trust in God's provision rather than seeking quick and uncertain wealth. Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." When we buy lottery tickets, we might be placing our hope in winning money rather than trusting in God's faithful provision for our needs.
- Stewardship of Resources: As Christians, we are called to be good stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us. In Matthew 25:14-30, the Parable of the Talents teaches us the importance of using our resources wisely and responsibly. Spending money on lottery tickets, which is essentially gambling, can be seen as a poor use of the resources God has given us.
- Avoiding the Love of Money: The Bible warns us about the dangers of loving money. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." Buying lottery tickets can feed into a desire for wealth and financial gain, which can distract us from our true purpose and relationship with God.
- Contentment: Hebrews 13:5 encourages us to "keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" Learning to be content with what we have helps us focus on the blessings we already possess and strengthens our faith in God's continuous presence and care.
- Impact on Others: Romans 14:13-23 speaks about not causing others to stumble in their faith. If buying lottery tickets leads to conflicts and arguments within your family or sets an example that might encourage others to prioritize money over faith, it's worth reconsidering this practice for the sake of maintaining harmony and setting a positive example.
In conclusion, while buying lottery tickets may seem harmless, it can lead to behaviors and attitudes that are not aligned with biblical teachings. It's important to seek wisdom and guidance from God in all our decisions and strive to live in a way that honors Him.
The bottom line is that we must place our trust in Yahweh instead of lottery tickets.
I hope this answer helps your daughter understand why buying lottery tickets might not be the best choice for her as a follower of Christ. Prayerfully ask the Father to give you the wisddom and discernment as you discuss this with your daughter. It's important to approach the conversation with meekness and peaceful approach.
May God bless you both as you navigate this conversation together.
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