Playing the lottery is a popular pastime, but what does the Bible say about it? While Scripture doesn’t mention the lottery specifically, it does offer principles on money, greed, and reliance on God’s provision. These teachings can guide us in making wise decisions about gambling and how we handle our finances.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About visions
What Does The Bible Say About playing the lottery
Proverbs 13:11
“Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.”
This verse reminds us that quick wealth, such as winning the lottery, often leads to careless spending and can easily be lost. Instead, it encourages us to build wealth gradually through hard work, discipline, and wise financial management.
Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
This verse emphasizes the transient nature of earthly treasures and the importance of prioritizing eternal treasures. Playing the lottery with the sole intention of amassing material wealth can divert our focus from heavenly treasures and distort our priorities.
1 Timothy 6:10
“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.”
This verse cautions against the love of money, as it can lead to various destructive temptations and harm our relationship with God. Playing the lottery out of a deep desire for wealth can easily lead to greed and a pursuit of riches that detracts from our faith and spiritual growth.
Proverbs 28:22
“A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.”
This verse warns against a mindset of greed and the pursuit of wealth without considering the potential consequences. It cautions that those who are focused solely on gaining riches, such as through playing the lottery, may be blinded to the risks of financial ruin and neglect to cultivate good stewardship and generosity.
Proverbs 23:4-5
“Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.”
This verse encourages wise discernment in our pursuit of wealth and warns against obsessively chasing after monetary gain. It illustrates the fleeting nature of wealth, conveying that it can easily disappear and leave us empty-handed.
Luke 16:13
“No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
This verse highlights the incompatibility of serving both God and the pursuit of wealth. It implies that playing the lottery solely for personal gain can potentially divert our devotion and loyalty away from God, leading to a conflicted heart and spiritual compromise.
Proverbs 28:20
“A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of faithfulness and integrity over hastiness in the desire for riches. It implies that seeking quick wealth through the lottery or other means can have negative consequences and may not lead to true blessings.
Psalm 27:1
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
This verse reminds us that our security, purpose, and contentment come from the Lord, not from material possessions or worldly wealth. It encourages us to find our peace and trust in God rather than in the potentially deceptive allure of riches gained through gambling.
1 John 2:15-17
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions – is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
This verse urges us to be cautious of developing an excessive love for worldly possessions, including material wealth. It reminds us that the pursuit of such desires is temporary and can distract us from the eternal significance of doing God’s will.
Ecclesiastes 5:10
“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.”
This verse expresses the futility of pursuing wealth for the sake of wealth alone. It suggests that an insatiable love for money will ultimately lead to dissatisfaction, as the pursuit of material gain can never fulfill our deepest needs for meaning, purpose, and contentment.
Psalm 49:16-17
“Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.”
This verse encourages us not to be envious or intimidated by the wealth of others. It reminds us that material possessions and earthly riches hold no value beyond this life, and that true wealth lies in our relationship with God and our eternal inheritance.
Proverbs 11:28
“Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.”
This verse warns against placing our trust and security solely in material wealth. It emphasizes that those who rely on earthly riches are susceptible to experiencing disappointment and loss, whereas those who live righteously and trust in God will flourish and bear fruit in all aspects of life.
Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
This verse reiterates the notion that our devotion cannot be divided between God and the pursuit of wealth. It emphasizes the importance of choosing to serve God wholeheartedly and placing our ultimate trust in Him rather than in material possessions.
Proverbs 10:22
“The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.”
This verse reminds us that true wealth and blessings come from the Lord. It indicates that the acquisition of wealth through means such as the lottery may not align with God’s plan and could bring sorrow or negative consequences in its wake.
1 Corinthians 4:2
“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of being faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us. It encourages us to use our resources, including money, wisely and responsibly, rather than relying on luck or chance to acquire wealth outside of God’s intended ways.
Philippians 4:11-13
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
This verse provides a powerful reminder that our contentment and strength come from the Lord, not from the pursuit of worldly wealth. It encourages us to find peace and satisfaction in every circumstance, knowing that we can rely on God’s strength and provision.
Proverbs 28:25
“A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.”
This verse contrasts the detrimental effects of greed with the blessings that come from trusting in the Lord. It implies that placing our trust in God rather than seeking quick wealth through gambling will lead to true enrichment and a life characterized by harmony and peace.
Ephesians 4:28
“Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”
This verse encourages us to prioritize honest work as a means of meeting our needs and contributing to the welfare of others. It emphasizes the importance of being diligent and responsible rather than seeking shortcuts or relying on illegitimate ways, such as playing the lottery, to accumulate wealth.
Hebrews 13:5
“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.'”
This verse urges us to guard against the love of money and to find contentment in God’s faithful presence. It reassures us that we can trust in His provision and that true fulfillment comes from our relationship with Him rather than the pursuit of material wealth.
Malachi 3:10
“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”
This verse encourages faithful giving and stewardship of our resources. It reminds us that by honoring God with our tithes and offerings, we open ourselves up to receiving His abundant blessings, which far surpass the transient wealth that can be gained from games of chance like the lottery.
Psalm 62:10
“Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.”
This verse cautions against placing our trust and hopes in ill-gotten gains or dishonest means of acquiring wealth. It reminds us to guard our hearts against becoming fixated on material riches and to remain grounded in our faith and dependence on God.
Psalm 37:4
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
This verse encourages us to find our ultimate delight and satisfaction in our relationship with God. As we align our desires with His will and seek Him wholeheartedly, we can trust that He will grant us the desires that are in line with His purpose for us, whether or not they involve material wealth.
Proverbs 28:19
“Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.”
This verse contrasts the rewards of diligent work and focused effort with the negative consequences of pursuing empty and fruitless endeavors. It suggests that investing our time, energy, and resources into meaningful work and pursuits is more likely to lead to true prosperity than relying on games of chance like the lottery.
Proverbs 22:7
“The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.”
This verse highlights the potential dangers of financial debt and the loss of freedom that comes with being beholden to creditors. It encourages us to make wise financial choices and avoid unnecessary financial risks, such as relying on the unpredictable outcomes of playing the lottery.