Gambling and Covetousness

I once walked in a high school gymnasium and witnessed a group of about 5-6 boys standing at halfcourt shooting shots. To their right was a crumbled pile of one dollar bills. As they shot one after the next, whoever made their shot first would scoop up the pile, and then they would start the "game" all over again.

What’s the dynamic here? Couldn’t they just have shot shots at halfcourt to see who was best? There was no inherent cost to participate, no fees to cover the cost of the basketballs or the use of the gym. There was no indication that any of them was better than the others: Their shots were more or less a chance happening, a lucky shot.

No: They wanted to make it more interesting, and each person contributing to that pot had two thoughts in succession: “I can make a quick buck, and I’m willing to risk my money to take their money.” At no point did any of them think: Why do I want this money? What have I done to earn it? What have I purchased? What have I gained, and at what cost?

So often we ignore these same questions because the potential for quick, effortless gain outweighs such “minor” concerns as propriety and holiness! The Bible speaks often of the dangers of greed. In fact, it is the very first lesson in Proverbs (Prov. 1.8-19). In that text, greed drove them into barbarism! “Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.” (Prov. 15.27) “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.” (Eccl. 15.27) In the N.T., the greedy are included among those who will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6.10)

Gambling is based upon finding a target source of profit, whether it be your neighbor in the yard who thinks Purdue will win it all this year (and of course all the IU fans don’t think so), or its the state of Indiana (in the case of the lottery), various betting platforms (Draft Kings, Fan Duel), or establishments that cater to gambling, such as casinos. Ever notice that all these widely advertise their potential for earnings, letting us know “We’ve got a lot of money, and if you wager against us and win, you can take it from us!” This gives the greedy a target for their greed. Once the target is locked-in, then one goes about seeking a way to acquire that wealth for themselves, and gambling establishments are more than willing to provide these avenues in the most enticing, provocative, plausible, and repeatable manners possible.

Simply put: One cannot gamble with their neighbor and love them as they ought.

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Ex. 20.17) This is one of the most basic aspects of “love your neighbor”: Don’t look to their goods as a means to profit or better yourself! This is covetousness! (cf. Rom. 13.9) If one chooses to gamble with their neighbor they have decided to attempt to take their neighbor’s goods for themselves without earning or exchange. Such a decision is not made from love.

Covetousness is defined by Paul as “earthly” and is to be “put to death” (Col. 3.5). He likewise described it as among that which is never to be named among saints (Eph. 5.3). It is alarming to hear those who profess to follow Christ highlight their participation in (and frankly, love for) gambling in various contexts. Some would balk at committing theft to acquire the goods of another, while thinking nothing of gambling.

Both grow from the soil of covetousness. Think on it.