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Should You Prohibit the Lottery in Your Family If You Are a Christian?

The lottery is a considerably popular way of gambling money for the chance of getting more money. However, most Christians find themselves in doubt in that regard, uncertain if that would be considered sinful. More importantly, we know that Christians like you are concerned with the fact that you do not know if that should be allowed in your family.

Obviously, the best way to reach a conclusion on whether you should prohibit the lottery in your Christian family is to use the Sacred Scripture as the foundation. Sparing you the work and the concern of missing an important point, we collected the necessary lessons connected to the lottery.

What Does the Bible Say about the Lottery?

First of all, it is important to highlight that, although the history of the lottery goes far beyond the beginning of Christianism, the lottery is not literally mentioned in the Bible. On the other hand, it is a form of gambling, and we have taken the basic functioning and mechanisms of the lottery to find out what the Holy Bible says about the way it is played.

Let us analyze together what important passages from the Bible can teach us about how God would judge the act of playing the lottery.

Analysis of Passages of the Holy Bible

Passage Comments
Proverbs 13:11

Wealth gained hastily or by fraud will dwindle,

but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

Regardless of how many years you spend playing the lottery until winning a prize, that is still “hastily” gaining wealth.

Although not a prohibition, this passage warns about the importance of being responsible and restrained with any big amount of money you win.

Matthew 6:24

No one can serve two masters.

Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.

You cannot serve both God and money.

Again not a prohibition, this passage warns about the control that money exerts over men.

Having money but using it in accordance with the Christians principles is the way. As long as you are not controlled by that money and continue to serve only God, you remain a true Christian.

Timothy 6:10

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Again, distancing from God and honoring money instead of living according to his command is the main problem.
Matthew 19:21

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

This is the detachment from the material and the persecution of true virtue, which is well known by Christians.
Corinthians 10:23

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.

Even though the Holy Bible does not prohibit lottery directly, Christians must consider if their doing is truly beneficial to others and the will of God.

Is Playing the Lottery a Sin?

From the perspective of the passages found in the Sacred Scriptures, neither the lottery nor any type of gambling is directly considered a sin. However, there are many warnings, like those specified above, against the love of money and anything that would redirect your path from the Christian life.

One of the most important concepts we can collect from the Bible is found in the aforementioned Corinthians 10:23. Although not prohibited, it is probably not beneficial to spend your money on games of luck. There are other passages that also talk about the perils connected to pride, including:

  • Hebrews 2:10 – Christians should not seek anything as if it was their own, because everything belongs to the Lord.
  • Ecclesiastes 5:10 – Satisfaction never comes from owning money. It comes from recognizing that your treasure is in the Lord.
  • Matthew 6:21 – Your heart is where your treasure is.
  • James 5:1-6 – Condemns the bad behavior of the rich people, who will fall in misery.

Therefore, the biggest problem in playing the lottery is connected to two possibilities: gambling addiction and the consequences to one’s character when too much money comes easily. Both can take you from the right path of loving the Lord, and that is where playing the lottery results in sinful behavior.

Possible Consequences of Playing the Lottery in a Christian Family or Community

The act of playing the lottery itself is not a sacrilegious or sinful act, but people who do not truly live in the love and discipline of God can suffer severe consequences that can occur to weak minds. More importantly, they can bring sorrow and despair to their Christian family or community.

Some of those consequences are listed below:

  • Distancing from the Christian life and the good coexistence with one’s family;
  • Risking the development of gambling addiction;
  • Acquiring financial problems;
  • Developing love for money, which the Holy Bible condemns;
  • Forgetting that the purpose is to have fun and start to give it too much importance;
  • Encouraging your children and other kids to gamble.

It will always depend on how prepared and well-disposed the Christian is to avoid those consequences altogether.

Is Prohibition of the Lottery in Your Family the Best Solution?

The safest way to avoid the temptations and problems generated by playing the lottery is to avoid it. However, a family is composed of different people with their own free will and line of thought. That is when prohibition sounds like the best way to keep the aforementioned problems away, especially for your kids.

If you have the possibility of not allowing them to play the lottery when you are sure that they are not ready to combine it with truly Christian life, it might be better to do so. The way how that forbidding is placed matters, and it is better to do so by a healthy and calm explanation. Use the passages and conclusions provided here to substantiate your thesis.

Prohibition that is placed without further explication can lead to questioning and friction that we do not desire for our families.

Why Keep Your Kids Away from Lottery?

As explained in our gambling addiction guide, kids and teens are more likely to become addicted to playing the lottery. Also, as shown before, addiction and giving importance to it are the roots of sinful behavior that would not be present in the lottery otherwise. That is the reason why people under 18 are not allowed to play it.

Therefore, it is recommended to explain to them that limitation, the perils that come from the love of money, and to keep them away from lotteries and gambling altogether. Even any other activity that involves the same behavior, such as playing cards and speculating with money or items, should be kept away from their lives.

The Role of Parents and Teachers

Parents and teachers are usually the closest people to kids and teenagers, which are the group with the highest risk of developing problems connected to the lottery. That alone, and their responsibility as Christians, demands that they pay attention to the behavior of the children that are close to them. Some signs that are worth checking include:

  • Any conversations connected to odds or making money fast.
  • Money disappears or starts to appear without a clear explanation.
  • Appointments start to lose importance, and you notice an increased absence in important activities.
  • Avoidance when it comes to showing what they have been playing on the computer or mobile.
  • Lies about what they have been spending their time or money on.

In case of suspicion or noticing one or more of those signs, it is recommended to talk with the kid or teenager and possibly install an intervention. Interventions should be made with people from the same Christian community or family that the person trusts.

10 Tips on How to Talk With Kids About the Lottery

  1. Teach them that the number of big winners is low compared to how much is played and that the odds are minimal.
  2. Explain how the lottery and similar activities can easily distance them from the Lord using the passages on this page.
  3. Show what is truly worthy in this world, like family and the time spent together.
  4. Identify successful Christians who have a comfortable life that derives from hard work and never distancing from God.
  5. Make them think about the irrelevance of a lot of money in this quick and temporary existence on Earth.
  6. Tell them to pray and ask the Lord and the Holy Spirit for guidance.
  7. Highlight that games of chance are made to collect money from people, not to give money.
  8. Encourage them to use that money to help charity instead, generating benefits to many people directly.
  9. Avoid using an aggressive tone and show reasonableness to show them that you are right.
  10. Ask someone with a high level of trust, like the clergyman, to talk with the kid.

Conclusions: Should Christians Prohibit Lottery in Their Families?

The lottery and gambling per se are not prohibited or according to the Bible, but they are connected to several sinful behaviors and distancing from the Christian way and God. The most important concept that we can take from the Holy Bible is that the love of money and its persecution instead of the love of God are the true problems.

Therefore, an adult Christian that sees lottery as a mere hobby and does not give it meaningful importance in life is not committing a sin. Winning money could even result in having more time to do God’s bidding and to help others, but that is far from being the case of every person.

The best way to act in that situation is to seek the answer in your heart, asking the Holy Spirit if you are ready to do it while preserving your Christian purpose. The Lord will certainly have the answer for you since it is not literally described in the Sacred Scriptures, and you should not try to reason over what you feel.

If you have come here because you or someone you know is already involved and having trouble or feeling guilty due to the lottery, do not be afraid. That means your heart has been touched to help yourself or that person, and you can seek professional help below:

FAQs

What to Do If My Clergyman Says Otherwise?
Your clergyman provides you with guidance, but you can also ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten your reasoning if you feel ready for it. That is how you avoid mundane misjudgment.
Is the Lottery Mentioned in the Bible?
No, but casting lots, which were the roots of lottery, is mentioned in Leviticus and also when Joshua cast lots to divide land to tribes, as well as when the apostles wanted to determine the replacement for Judas.
Are There Different Interpretations for Different Lottery Games?
The lottery works the same way, regardless of how some rules and prizes change.
Should You Prohibit Scratchcards and Similar Instant Games in Your Family?
Instant games that you bet to win money can receive the same considerations made for the lottery.
Can Christians Participate in Solidarity and Supportive Raffles?
That would be similar to donating money to the charity. Winning a prize, as long as it does not interfere with your dedication to God, is not prohibited.
What to Do If You Discover That Your Children are Playing the Lottery?
Use our tips to talk with them about the lottery and the consequences of it for their lives and their Christianity. Only adults, when they truly feel that it will not impact their love to God, can make that choice.

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