THE LOTTERY



"Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is 

the answer to everything" (Eccl. 10:19). And truly in our godless age 

nothing could be more idolized than the items thus mentioned here. To eat, 

drink, and be merry is the dogma of our day.  It is expected of all that 

they will conform to this twisted standard and give unflinching obedience 

to the god of the "good life". Of course everything has its price and that 

includes the "good life".  Every meal and every drink has its fee and the 

greater the price the greater the satisfaction. Therefore, if we are to 

maintain this high standard of living we must have the finances available 

to relish in such pleasures. Thus, money becomes the key to enjoyment; 

money becomes the central focus of our ambitions; money becomes "the answer

to everything".

     

And truly the things that can be bought with money are seemingly endless. 

Amusements, recreations, immoralities, and countless other diversions can 

all be bought for a price, and with enough money the price can never be too 

high. But how can the simple man, the average Joe, come into a state of 

affairs where he can truly enjoy these "great blessings". Of course, if he 

attempted to gain these things by hard work he will be at a major 

disadvantage because of the time it will take him to amass enough wealth to 

indulge himself in these creature comforts (and besides by then he will be 

far too old to enjoy them).

     

There is one hope though. One chance among millions. One blessed dream that 

could change the course of his life. One great possibility that could 

direct him through the doors of ease and comfort for the remainder of his 

days. And it is so easy and economical that he can afford to donate his 

time and earnings to it on a regular basis. He may, if it so pleases our 

restless hero, spin the proverbial wheel of chance monthly, weekly, and 

even daily. What is that blessed hope of salvation that could lead to the 

success and consummation of our hero's quest if only the most splendid and 

esteemed mistress Lady Luck will be merciful to our ambitious champion? 

Why, of course, it is the Lottery.





                              SING IT, KENNY



Granted, the media has us convinced that the lottery is an acceptable 

thing, a reasonable thing, even a necessary thing. Yet it is my contention 

that the lottery is nothing more than a watered-down form of gambling. It 

is a leech which slowly drains our God-given funds. It emphasizes man's 

sinfulness in greed and discontent and should be shunned by all that 

profess reliance upon the Lord and His providence.



Why would someone desire to play the lottery? What is their motivation? The 

goal of the gambler is quite clear: To make as much money with as little 

effort as possible. These two motivations: 1) To make much money, and 2) to 

expend as little effort as possible in the attaining of it, are contrary to 

all that the Christian should be in name and attitude.





                   HOW DO YOU SPELL LOTTERY---G.R.E.E.D.



First, no matter how you rationalize it, the goal of playing the lottery is 

to attain a mass of wealth. The goal is GREED. There is no other way around 

it. Of course, some who play would say much to the contrary. Their response 

to the charge of greed as their motivator would be, "We just want to be 

secure", or "I'm would just like to take it easy for awhile", or (blasphemy 

of blasphemies) "If I won, I sure could help the church out". Dear friend, 

even the Pharisees who were lovers of money themselves (Luke 16:14) had 

enough reverence when Judas threw the betrayal money back at them not to 

use it for sacred things but to instead buy a field with it. Do you think 

then that good can come from evil? Do you honestly think that God needs

your blood money to accomplish his purposes? Or are you still as yet not 

convinced that gambling, even in the watered-down version of the lottery, 

is a moral evil and offense unto the Holy God?



The Bible says that "in the last days men will be lovers of self, lovers of 

money." (2 Tim. 3:2). Worldly men are characterized by worldly passions 

such as self-love and greed. Should these same qualities characterize the 

Christian? Greed is displayed as one of the features of a depraved mind 

(Rom 1:28-29) right in there with other sins such as murder, deceitfulness, 

hating God, etc. "Oh, but it is such a little sin" you say in comparison to 

these others. Then why, pray tell, does it have such "worthy" bed-partners. 

Learn, O Christian, that all sin, great or small, is a stench in the 

nostrils of a Holy and Majestic God and is so putrid and horrifying to His

senses that punishment for just one of your so-called "small" sins would be 

an everlasting torment in hell away from God and all that is good with 

weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth time without end. 



The Scriptures are clear: "Do not let immorality...or greed even be named 

among you, as is proper among saints" (Eph. 5:3) and "Consider the members 

of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, 

and greed, which amounts to idolatry" (Col 3:5). Here again, we see that 

Greed has such "worthy" partners; evil desires, immorality and the like. 

Greed is not even to be heard of among Christians and is idolatry (read the 

last part of Col 3:5 again if you still remain unconvinced).



"But I'm not greedy" you cry, "I just want a few good things, some 

security, some time to myself, etc.". Your whimperings will get you 

nowhere. What is greed but a longing for riches and what does the Bible say 

about that: "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some 

BY LONGING FOR IT have wandered away from the faith" (1 Tim 6:10). Have you 

been wandering away from the providence of God my friend by longing for 

much riches through the lottery? If so, the next verse has a vital message 

you need to hear, understand and obey: "But FLEE from these things, you man 

of God" (1 Tim. 6:11). O Man of God who trusts in Lady Luck to provide for 

him, don't try to reason out of it or rationalize this message away. Obey 

the Scriptures, repent of your sin. In a word; Flee!





                           LABOR AND CONTENTMENT



Or are you not content with the lot that God has graciously given you? Is 

there any good thing that you have from God that you did not receive? Do 

you think you deserve more? Are you of such noble character and moral 

purity that you deserve ample compensation for all your lusts and desires 

at your bidding? And would you now attempt to stick your hand in the 

forbidden cookie jar to gain more than God has given? O foolish and pitiful 

man. It is God that gives you the strength to work. It is God that provides 

you with the skills and knowledge to labor. It is God who provides your 

every need by His great providence. And it is God who has shown us the way 

in which He would have us to increase monetarily, and that is by honest, 

hard labor that benefits others. The Thessalonians were told to "make it

your ambition to lead a quiet life... and work with your hands" (1 Thes. 

4:11) and that "if anyone will not work neither let him eat" (2 Thes. 

3:10). Though God at one time sustained His people by a constant supply of 

manna, He now sustains His people chiefly by granting them the strength and 

abilities to labor for the common good and by that labor to increase 

financially.

     

Listen well to this verse and take it to heart: "He who tills the land will 

have plenty of food, but he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in 

plenty...he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished" (Prov. 

28:19-20). And what more is the lottery but then an "empty and vain 

pursuit" in an attempt to "make haste to be rich". This verse alone should 

be enough to stop any real Christian who bows to the authority of Scripture 

to see the folly in playing the Lottery and repent now of his sin before he 

encounters God's discipline: "he who makes haste to be rich will not go 

unpunished".



What then should we do? We should be "free from the love of money, being 

content with what we have" (Heb. 13:5). It is lack of that contentment that 

results in stressful and sinful strivings against God's providence. Simply 

be content, you are getting far less than what your sins deserve! Have the 

attitude of Agur in the Proverbs who cried out to God "give me neither 

poverty nor riches...lest I be full and deny Thee, and say, "Who is the 

Lord?" or lest I be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God" 

(Prov. 30:8-9). Desire a good name for "a good name is to be more desired

than great riches" (Prov. 22:1). If great riches are your desire and you 

must gamble to gain them then you become nothing more than a gambler. Your 

good name of saint is gone and your new names of risk-taker, chance-monger, 

and gambler are fully deserved. 



Jesus said, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed" (Luk 

12:15). I am convinced that one of the manifestations of greed in its most 

heinous form (for it seems so innocent) is that idea promoted and performed 

by the Lottery. 

                

                                CONCLUSION



Phil 4:19 reads, "but my God shall supply all your need according to His 

riches in glory by Christ Jesus". Do we really believe this? Does this show 

in our actions? Does God provide through our Lord Jesus Christ or through 

our Lord Lady Luck? Keep in mind that Jesus Himself said that it is 

impossible to serve God and mammon. Who do you serve? Who do you trust to 

supply your need? Did not at one time holy men of old pray "Give us this 

day our daily bread" in humble reliance upon the Lord. You may keep your 

harlot Lady Luck. I will neither receive from her hand nor beg at her feet

for her cup full of unbelief. My trust and rest is in the Sovereign Lord 

and His providence in supplying every good thing to His own. I can sing 

with David that my portion and cup truly overflow in God's graciousness. 

You may feast with your Lady and share her cup of abominations if you like, 

but please don't say you trust in God and His providence, your actions 

betray you and likewise condemn you. 

                                   

Written by:

Richard J. Vincent

1109 Bitteroot Court

Indianapolis, IN 46234



If you would like a printed copy of this text with enhanced characters                                   

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