In last week’s article, we explored gambling through the lens of the fruit it produces. As mentioned previously, Jesus introduced the concept of the fruit test to help identify false teachers. He said, “Therefore, by their fruits you will know them” (Matt. 7:16-20 NKJV). This same test is effective when assessing activities like gambling, and the fruit it yields has proven to be negative.
This week, we will delve into the true nature of gambling and its addictive qualities. At its core, gambling is driven by covetousness and greed. Whether it’s poker, blackjack, roulette, slot machines, scratch-offs, or pick 6, these games are played with the hope of striking it rich on the next roll of the dice or pull of the lever. When you’re sitting at the table, weighing whether you have the right cards to win, it’s your neighbor’s money that you covet. The last of the Ten Commandments warns, “You shall not covet.” But what is it that should not be coveted? It says, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s” (Ex. 20:17).
Jesus cautioned in Luke 12:15, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of things he possesses.” In his letter to the Colossians, Paul urged the brethren to “put to death covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:5). For the majority, gambling becomes a habit that fosters a deep desire for money. Paul also warned Timothy that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Tim. 6:10).
At its core, gambling is driven by a strong desire for money and the thrill of winning. When a person wins, the immediate urge is to win even more. When they lose, they are compelled to recover their losses, and this marks the start of a destructive cycle. The love of money fosters greed and covetousness, which is idolatry. The winnings, or the things those winnings can buy, become the primary focus, overshadowing the fact that they come at the expense of someone else’s misfortune.
By: Jerrod Hammond