While the Bible does not have any explicit verses mentioning gambling, it includes numerous passages that could be interpreted to provide guidance on the subject.
What the Bible Said About the Love of Money
According to the Bible, the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. This perspective can be linked to gambling, as it often stems from a deep desire for quick wealth. People often gamble in the hope of making large amounts of money in a short amount of time. This lust for money and the insatiable urge to earn more is seen as a slippery slope leading towards evil and destruction. The Bible encourages its followers to avoid the love of money, to remain content with what they have, and to rely on God for their needs.
Why Matters of Greed are Discussed in the Bible
Greed is a prevailing theme in many biblical teachings, often used as a cautionary tale about the perils of excessive desire and avarice. It is typically associated with behaviours that go beyond the simple necessity for survival and venture into the realm of excess and gluttony. Gambling is often linked to these teachings about greed and covetousness within the biblical context, serving as a warning against surrendering to these destructive impulses. The Bible emphasizes that everything comes from God and encourages followers to value spiritual wealth over material wealth.
Where Does the Bible Stand on Personal Responsibility?
As the Bible underscores the importance of personal responsibility, this view can be directly applied to gambling, a form of entertainment often linked to fiscal irresponsibility. The Bible advises believers to be good stewards of their resources, caring for their families and helping the less fortunate. Squandering resources on gambling instead of using them responsibly is, thus, seen as a violation of biblical principles. In essence, the significant amounts of money wagered or lost during gambling could be used to support one’s family or help those in need.
Who is Affected by Gambling According to the Bible?
Drawing from biblical teachings, the harms of gambling extend beyond the gambler. The Bible addresses the principle of love for one’s neighbour, implying that activities achieving personal gain at the expense of others are essentially unchristian. In the context of gambling, winning often means that others must lose, which conflicts with the core principles of love, mutual benefit, and care for others that the Bible promotes. Therefore, the impact of gambling on family, friends, and society provides a direct contradiction to many biblical teachings.
When the Bible Talks About Dependence on God
A core teaching of the Bible is reliance on God for providence and sustenance. Therefore, the Bible may be seen as promoting an anti-gambling stance by encouraging believers to trust in God for provision rather than trusting in luck or chance, which is the foundation of gambling. This contrasting view of dependence encompasses the principle of hard work and fair earnings as a source of livelihood, against the unpredictable and unstable nature of gambling.
Below is our full list of bible verses on gambling (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Gambling
Proverbs 13:11
“11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.”
1 Timothy 6:10
“10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
Hebrews 13:5
“5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Related Themes: Money Loneliness Finances Complaining Greed
1 Timothy 6:9-10
“9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
Related Themes: Lust Money Greed Finances Materialism
Matthew 6:24
“24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Ecclesiastes 5:10
“10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.”
Related Themes: Money Finances Greed Vanity Materialism
Luke 12:15
“15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
Related Themes: Money Finances Greed Lust Materialism
1 Timothy 6:9
“9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
Related Themes: Lust Money Greed Finances Materialism
Proverbs 28:22
“22 He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.”
1 Corinthians 6:12
“12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
Related Themes: Addiction Technology Freedom Gluttony Sports
Proverbs 16:33
“33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.”
Related Themes: Sovereignty Omnipotence Chance Voting
Ephesians 4:28
“28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”
Luke 16:13
“13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Related Themes: Money Consistency Finances Obtaining Wealth
Exodus 20:17
“17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.”
Related Themes: Lust Coveting Envy And Jealousy Adultery Greed
Acts 20:35
“35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Related Themes: Money Serving Others Charity Generosity Finances
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
“9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
Related Themes: Lust Abomination Lust Abomination
Matthew 6:19-21
“19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Related Themes: Money Homelessness Finances Materialism Coveting
Luke 12:33-34
“33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Related Themes: Homelessness Money Homelessness Money Heart
Mark 8:36
“36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
Mark 7:20-23
“20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
1 Timothy 6:17-19
“17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”
Related Themes: Money Pride Money Homelessness Hope
Matthew 27:35
“35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.”
Acts 1:23-26
“23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”
1 Peter 4:10
“10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
Related Themes: Serving Others Stewardship Volunteering Education
Acts 20:33-35
“33 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Jonah 1:7
“7 And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.”
Proverbs 28:20
“20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.”
Related Themes: Money Reaping Finances Faithfulness Greed
Proverbs 1:10-19
“10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.”
Related Themes: Gossip Children Peer Pressure Youth
2 Thessalonians 3:10
“10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”
Related Themes: Idleness Laziness Idleness Work Homelessness
Isaiah 65:11-12
“11 But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.”
Related Themes: Fortune
