Jesus told us to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). The trouble is that gambling is destructive in so many ways. Love does not include taking from those close to you who need it.
Gambling addiction, misuse of money that is needed somewhere else, leads to increased levels of divorce, bankruptcy, child abuse, domestic violence, crime, and suicide.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4)
The Bible calls us to look after the poor and not try to take advantage of them.
The Bible asks us to supply our own needs and to help others. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.( (Ephesians 4:28)
Gambling promises something for nothing. Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.(Proverbs 12:11)
Gambling is greed of something for nothing. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:9-10)
And finally, as the Bible points out in Matthew 25:14-30, the parable of the talents is very clear. God expects us to use our income wisely. When we gamble, we are worse than then the fellow who buried his cash in the ground. At least he knew where it was.
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