Believe it or not, there are Christians who play the lottery and some who have even won large jackpots, in the millions of dollars. The question I have is this: should Christians tithe on lottery winnings?
Even more specifically, should churches accept tithe from lottery winnings?
First…What Does The Bible Say About Gambling?
While the Bible doesn’t go into specifics about gambling or playing lotteries, it does teach us a great deal about how we should manage our money.
Calling gambling a sin may not be the best definition of the term – but gambling certainly can lead people to sinful thoughts and actions.
The Bible does, however, provide several verses that we can use to help us determine if gambling is a wise financial decision.
Love of Money – 1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”
Unsatisfying Master – Ecclesiastes 5:10 “Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!”
Get Rich Quick –Proverbs 13:11 “Wealth from get rich quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.”
I can’t think of a better example for a get rich quick attempt than to play the lottery. If we want to be wise with our money, why not follow the teachings we find in the Proverbs? It’s no wonder that a high percentage of lottery winners go bankrupt within the first few years of winning millions.
Proverbs 28:22 “Greedy people try to get rich quick but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty.”
Is It OK To Tithe From Lottery Winnings?
If you happen to win the lottery and want to tithe or give from your winnings, I personally don’t see anything wrong with it. There are a lot of organizations, including non-profits, churches, and private charities that could use the support.
Having said that, I don’t think that playing the lottery is wise, nor do I feel that it is an activity that reflects good stewardship. If you actively play the lottery in hopes to win, my advice is to review the verses above and to be aware of the dangers this addicting, financially irresponsible activity can bring on you and your family.
How to Give From Lottery Winnings
Giving to a Church
The best practice for giving to a church is to let the pastor or church board know what you’re doing. If they don’t have an issue with it, work with them to see how the giving would be best suited (one time gift or over time, etc).
Giving to Organizations
Some charitable organizations may have reservations about accepting lottery money and a respectful approach would be to ask their stance on lottery winnings as gifts.
Outright Giving
Giving directly to those in financial need can be a rewarding way to use lottery winnings. This approach should be taken with caution because you might have a few uninvited requests for funds if people know you’ve won the lottery.
So what do you think? Should You Tithe From Lottery Winnings? And…Should Churches Accept Tithes and Offerings From These Winnings?
Interesting. I’ve never really considered that churches might care where the money is coming from. But I do think if you do gamble you should tithe your winnings.
This will probably be deleted, but here goes. Since the bible doesn’t go into specifics, as you wrote, let me expand this conversation. I used to have my own business, and i can tell you this: I had customers who were earning money as strippers, hated it, and yet still needed to buy groceries. Some, yes, some of them even went to church.
What about money obtained under false pretenses through fraud or other shady business deals? – like the people who will often smear other businesses into bankruptcy or closing in order to obtain their “filthy lucre?”, and sit in the front pew on Sunday?
How about the ever present back-biting biddies who will endlessly back stab, harass, or gossip about another co-worker to get a “leg up?” or get someone fired? Or to “achieve” a promotion?
Does the church accept money from people who are involved in liquor sales? Work for a grocery chain? Every major retailer like Target or Wal-Mart sells booze – UH OH.
Did you buy your gas at a station or grocery store where lottery tickets are sold? whoops.
Also, “Google” the list of companies who support planned parenthood. INcluding the computer your’re reading these words on. This list- Its as long as your arm, and i doubt that ANYONE in this country is unscathed by any of those companies.
Our tax dollars go to fund things that would blow your mind as well. Any people tithing who work for the city where the casinos operate?
Geez, why is this even a question? God blesses you with a TON of money, millions of it even, and one has to ASK if they should tithe from it? Yeesh. Duh. Not only tithe (ie, 10%), but give a very *large* portion of it away to charities, and needy people. There are tons of needy people out there, and you have to look no further than the church itself. So many Christians in the church who can’t even pay the most basic of bills, such as ‘a place to live’ and ‘electricity’ and ‘food to eat’. A Christian winning the lottery could totally help out their brothers and sisters. I know I would if I ever won any large sum of money. (Not that I play the lottery really, I don’t even live in a state that has one).
and considering most “churches” won’t even help those in need or even the ones that are tithing in the church cannot get help from their “brothers and sisters” in Christ, I wish I could get a large sum of money. The one thing I want to do is help all of the foolish Christian Housewives such as myself who trusted their husband in “everything” only to be dumped , divorced and left destitute yet cannot get any help since I don’t have minor children. Yes I would help those who followed scripture and ended up in a hole such as me. I would help those who have lost their jobs, like me and have to fill out a list eight pages long for a 50 electric bill, I would supply food to those that pay taxes to a government that will not give any assistance when you are down and out. Yep I WISH I could hit. I have been in a pit and would love to pull others out
It is sad that many Christians and churches do not help their local people. Many may give a $40 food card but that is it. When people go through very difficult financial struggles it is seen by many Christians to be a result of sin and bad decisions. This can be very true for many, but not all who find themselves in such straights. “Who sinned his parents or him, they asked of the blind man to Jesus” paraphrasing.
Far too many Christians view that God is trying to teach someone a lesson and thus are unwilling to lend a hand. They do not what to get in God’s way.
Compassion seems to be reserved for those in a different country.
When a person works hard to secure a contract and it goes to someone else, then they work for another and again they lose the opportunity and try again, each time spending many hours to build the proposal, work the numbers. Yet lose again. how long can one strive for work and remain able to pay their bills and move forward. One could state the person needs to be in a different business, go get a job, or what ever. But does not God have a role in helping those who want to work?
Job went through much pain and more as he had to listen to his well meaning friends.
But God did not act until Job prayed for his friends and the friends hosted a party and gave Job a financial stake to rebuild his life. They God moved to bless Job.
People can justify anything, this shows our heart. But helping as one is able shows our compassion and brotherhood.
Life is not easy for many and some suffer from diseases and other problems most cannot fully appreciate. The HOPE of wining a lottery from buying a ticket and asking God to move as He pleases. Is this misplaced? is this trying to force God? It is the heart! Our pain cannot be shared so real with others.
I live in Texas, and when Texas first instituted its lottery (1990?) I played occasionally and never really thought much about it . . . until I had ideas for ministries I wanted to start in my local community. Then the thought occurred to me that playing the lottery might be a way God could provide the funding I needed, because He controls ‘chance,’ right? I contemplated and reflected on this matter for some months (one of my forms of private prayer), and eventually had a dream which I understood as being God’s commentary on the idea.
In the dream, I want to go to a restricted floor in a downtown office building to do some work but do not know the security code to access that floor — so I pick a random set of numbers (like the numbers on a lottery ticket) to enter on the keypad, and MUCH TO MY SURPRISE the set of random numbers works! Except the elevator takes me to a restricted floor which is different than the one I was trying to reach, so in the end I did not accomplish my mission AND I could have actually gotten into legal trouble for being on an unauthorized floor.
In other words, even if I were to win the lottery I would not be taken to the place I sought to go on God’s behalf and, indeed, could actually end up getting myself into trouble instead. So, disappointed (but realizing I had received divine direction) I quit playing the lottery (and never found funding for my ministry ideas, so they were obviously ‘my’ plans and not God’s!).
That was 20 years ago when I was young, naive, knew little-to-nothing about gambling or lotteries, and assumed it was all morally-neutral activity. I have since learned that it is not, by any means. [I mean, there is a reason Las Vegas is called ‘Sin City’ after all!] I am now convicted that anyone who loves God above all things and genuinely walks in relationship with Him will either (1) be led by Him to refrain from gambling in all its forms (which includes over-reliance on insurance, since insurance is based on gambling principles) or (2) will certainly NOT WIN a significant sum on a lottery ticket.
Along these lines, someone who wins big in the lottery is NOT winning through any divine intervention by God, I am positive. Every study I’ve read says that almost across the board lottery winners conclude that winning the lottery was a destructive event in their lives, and they regret the win. As much as people do not want to accept this, the reality is that sudden, unearned affluence changes people, and not for the better. If God were to cause you to win the lottery, He would be cursing you, not blessing you . . . and God no longer curses people. So the reality is that God simply stays out of it: lotteries are worldly systems created by men to accomplish worldly objectives, and gambling is NOT a ‘Kingdom activity.’
To those who believe that God would, in fact, “bless” you with a large influx of money in answer to prayer, I have this to say: prayer is self-reflection before God with the goal, over time, of the ‘inner man’ being conformed into Christ’s holy image by the work of the Holy Spirit. I.e., God wants to make us holy so that we are fit to live in His Kingdom (and do His will) . . . and that’s pretty much it. Telling God what you want Him to do for you, or suggesting how you desire to be “blessed,” is not prayer: God is not Santa Claus, and in His eyes, money is not a blessing. It is a thing of Caesar’s which was created by Caesar and belongs to Caesar; when God chooses to bless someone, it is with things created by God which belong to God (like love, health, sanity, knowledge, courage, strength of character, humility, endurance, meekness, compassion).
Hi, i just read your response and feel it is one of the best responses i’ve ever read. Not only to this question, but many others i’ve considered over the past few weeks. Thanks for sharing.
That was an amazing response. Thank you for sharing your heart and incredible wisdom on this topic. You blessed everyone who read it with God’s truth. Thank you!
amen :)
This is a thoughtful reply to this matter. It has pronouncements that sound authoritative. However, it does not accord entirely with the Bible. God sees our paths, as the Psalmist declares, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and He knows our choices. Now the fellow who wrote the original post has several good Scriptures quoted, that speak to this department of our lives, namely material goods.
There are Christians who have gotten winnings, sometimes large ones. I knew one young lady who went to Las Vegas, which distinctly does not appeal to me. She won 200+$$, and she told me that she tithed it. I think she gave it to the 700 club. I was struck by the fact that she told me that she did this. Gambling, especially in that sort of casino, seems somehow dirty or touched by sin. In Wisconsin the Indian tribes, especially the Ojibway tribe, has casinos. I have heard of nor know of no mob influence, the proceeds go to the tribe, and some to the state. I don’t go to these, except perhaps to eat. I have never fiddled with one of these machines.
The lottery is another matter, it is benefits the state, and the US Treasury, which is certainly the world’s largest debtor.
I do buy a ticket at times, I don’t want to buy a bunch of them. This is done from financial need. I pay my bills, often by installment, and I am needy, being in a small business. Small businesses struggle.
I reckon it is a church’s matter whether they accept tithes or offerings from lotteries.
Oral Roberts was bailed out by that one dog track owner, to pay off the remaining 2+ million $ that he owed. Now I may not understand all about this, and it made a peculiar tale, Roberts being up in his prayer tower. However, from folks who went there to school, they said that Mr. Roberts made it possible for many medical students to get a medical education, without much cost, certainly not with medical tuition, anyway, and this enabled many medical missionaries to go out into the world. I cannot see this as a bad or wicked thing.
On balance, if people are able, by the grace of God, to pay the largest debtor nation in the world, to render to Caesar his due, and to tithe and or give to God’s works, and to help others a significant chunk, I do not see why anyone should object.
The help of others is part of what love is. When you give food or clothing or shoes or $$ to someone who needs it, they are happy with relief for their need being met.
Now, one thing that likely is very true, and that is that money can be a snare. And the expectations of other people toward someone who has won money could be a large pain in the hindy. That could be a big pain.
The last note that this person left, about God’s fruit of the Spirit, the graces, those are certainly blessings from God.
One of the things that registers as not entirely correct in this poster’s note is that God is the giver of wealth, as in Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. This is wealth that was gained by the labour and sweat of one’s brow, although for the patriarchs, often this was other people’s hard work too, not just their own. God did not despise this, it was viewed as God’s blessing, blessings of the field, of produce, and blessings of the flock.
Well, anyway, this person had a thoughtful post.
May God have mercy upon us and provide for our needs, which so often press upon us.
You do err not knowing the scriptures or the power of God as Jesus said. Also the scriptures says that “But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 8:18 Also, Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 2 Also, “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” Mark 10:29-30
Thanks for sharing!
I do play the lottery every now and then. When I do, I only buy 1 ticket, $1. If the LORD has decided I’ll win something, I only need 1 ticket. I don’t play every week, just every so often. I like the verse “The dice are thrown, but the LORD determines every outcome.”
Proverbs 16:33
blessings come in different ways and gambling winnings can be one of them.
I really enjoyed and feel blessed with your in-depth answer to the question of gambling. I am afraid to play for the most part as I believe that God will feel I am not satisfied with him taking care of all my needs and since all come from him, he could decide that since I am not satisfied with him, he will just stop providing me with anything at all. Then I truly would be in bigger trouble than just spending $1 on the lottery.
Should a Christian win the lottery…….they should give 1/2 away but ensure by giving they are not hurting at the same time. Sometimes you can throw money on a person or situation and make it worse off than it was before you came along with your “gift”.
HOPING YOU ALL HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH ALWAYS!
I have pondered this question for some time now,before I was saved I played the lottery quite often,I will admit,I still pick up a few tickets from time to time.I had a set of numbers I turned in each week and I never won anything so I did quick pick and did a little better,low and behold those numbers came up a few months after I quit turning my own numbers in,it was for 3 million,but at the time we were going to Reno&Las Vegas pretty regularly and I was used to playing and loosing (and winning) quite a bit.After becoming Born Again Christians,we very rarely went to casinos (maybe to the buffet),but like I said,I do pick up a ticket now and then.Because I am excellent with money matters and can get the most out of a buck,it was easy for me to accept the treasurer job at our church,so in discussing this very topic with my Pastor,he said he would accept the money.Our church is really struggling and we need a lot of repairs and such,also we have another church not far away of our same denomination that is worse off then us.Even if I tithed the minimum of 10% of a standard one million dollar lottery,it would help both churches so much,problem being,what would the LORD think of my actions? I do know HE is capable of granting anything to anybody,just if this falls into that category,I don’t know.
i get sick and tired of people putting limits on the almighty and distort the scriptures
what if your poor ? no job ?, bad economy and only have a couple bucks to your name. yeah play the lottery, its better then robbing a bank, it says the root of all evil is money, thats if you use it for evil. there is a big difference when it comes to in need or in greed,you cannot live remotely surviving without money, and the bible puts much emphasis on it, 10% of all your earnings goes to him, in doing so your barns will be overfilling. there is something else to consider, you dont know what the person has been going through in his/her life, so dont be so quick to judge and apply doctrines, could you could be mishandling that and cause said person more harm then good. like in the opening of your site ,god is not santa claus, yeah you are right, he is a myth,god is way more then that, and based on scripture if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains, be careful in the future on how loosely you display god, you hear me?
Amen! You seriously took the words right out of my mouth!!
Thank you for your comment. God is ABSOLUTELY NOT A MYTH and IT IS CONTEMPTIBLE compare him to Santa Clause. God, the Creator of Heaven & Earth is beyond our capacity to understand, and that is why humans cannot look upon His face.
19 “I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 20 But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.” Exodus 30:19,20
Many times Jesus told His Disciples that whatever they ask the Father, in His Name, He will give it.
John 15:16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will remain–so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.”
John 16:23 “In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.”
John 16:24 “Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.”
If we take all the money we use to play lottery tickets and tithe it — we will reap far more than losing it in lottery playing uncertainty. This is guaranteed because God’s plan of Reaping in Sowing is No Joke but is Mathematical Certainty.
Makes More sense and wise –right? Yes
Bologna. That dosnt make sense from my exp. I have given over 10 % my whole life. Even when it may have been uninteligent to do so based on my financial position. Additionally from the age of 12 i supported people who were in the ministry. Hauling wood so that they may stay warm in winters. Performing numerous (helpings hands) works around my town and for my church……..And let me tell you………i have been given very very little from Gods so called cattle on a thousand hills lolol. Watched many unbelievers succsess stories and watched myself flounder. All while tithing and giving of my own time and money. Sometimes god wants people to be poor. Sometimes he wants our lives to be unsatasfying and laborious. Idk why???? But that is the truth my life has bourne out. I have done more for the ministry and given more hours of my 24 year life than most 50 year old men and god has returned almost nothing for my work. Mabey thats why people lose faith and turn away
The modern church deceives the flock with the very idea of a tithe.. Study the truth. Bottom line these give to get hucksters are enriching themselves on the people’s wallet. Did not Paul say that no man should be compelled to pay a tithe. Why do the churches leave this out. We do not live by letters written on dead stones. The tithe was a practical response to the needs of the levitacal priesthood. I am not saying not to support the Church, I am saying it is wrong to cajole or fool people into thinking that God needs your money, he does not.I think your experience bears this out. My good mother paid her tithe faithfully, she gave to various children ministries, she gave and had little left for herself. Does God bless this in Heaven, yes,I believe so.But not always here. I stopped tithing because I could not afford to anymore. As soon asked my mother became to feeble to tithe, the Church forgot about her. They forgot about me too. I took this as proof they only wanted the money.
The stock market is a form of gambling. Why doesn’t anyone ever address that?
I became a Christian 41 years ago. I was as faithful in tithing as one can be. In fact, in my heart, I use to look down on Christians who were not faithful in their tithing to the Church. I use to believe and teach that Christians who were not faithful in their tithing were guilty of robbing God. The truth of the matter is that it is actually the Church who is guilty of robbing people through the teaching of the false doctrine of New Testament tithing, which is not Biblical.
Thank the Lord for opening up the truth of His Scriptures to me, to see and understand the real truth concerning New Testament tithing.
Below, are some wonderful and eye-opening articles on the Biblical truth of New Testament tithing.
Re-examining the Institutional Church’s “Doctrine of Tithing”
To find out the Biblical Truth about tithing, simply go to the internet and key in any one of the titles listed below: Having a good Biblical understanding about the tithe in relationship to the Church is of “GREAT” importance to the Body of Christ. By understanding that the New Testament Church is not required to tithe, and is not “Scriptural,” it then becomes quite clear that the Institutional Church “System” is not a God ordained system, but a man-made system.
The tithe – is it still applicable today? – Lee Underwood (Below are some excerpts from this article)
In these last days, many traditions of the Christian Institutional Church are being revealed to be nothing more than just that: man-made customs. So, in regards to these tithes, are they Biblical or are they just tradition also? Did Yahweh actually command that they be collected for use by a local assembly for its daily operating expenses? The only way to understand any of this is to take a look at “Scripture” and discern what it says regarding this practice.
“Scripturally,” we can see that the tithe was never meant to support pastors, elders, boards of directors, traveling ministers, local assembly buildings, or other things of the sort.
The Origin of the “Christian” Tithe
The first person to mention paying for the full-time support of certain members of local congregations is Cyprian (200-258 CE). The idea did not go over real big at the time. Congregation leaders were given salaries when Constantine came into office, 200 years after the beginning of the Christian religion. Tithing did not become a commonly accepted practice until the eighth century – 700 years after the beginning of Christianity. By the eleventh century it had become a legal requirement in order to fund the State-run church.
The tithe – Vision Of The Church (Below are some excerpts from this article)
“THE TITHE” SAYS THAT ONE PERSON HAS THE RULE OVER OTHERS WITHIN THE CHURCH. THE TITHE LIMITS MINISTRY. THE TITHE UNDOES SPIRIT LEAD GIVING AND GIVING TO THE POOR WITHIN THE CHURCH. THE TITHE, BIBLICALLY, WAS THE AMOUNT OF THE SIN OFFERING THAT GOD COMMANDED ISRAEL TO MAKE IN THE OLD COVENANT. BIBLICALLY A TITHE WAS ONLY PAID TO THE HIGH PRIEST OF JERUSALEM, AND ALWAYS CONSISTED OF ANIMALS OR GRAIN (BREAD AND MEAT)–THE SIN OFFERING. THE CHURCH IN THE BIBLE DID NOT PAY TITHE. HEBREWS 10:18 SAYS IN THE NEW COVENANT THERE IS NO MORE SIN OFFERING — JESUS IS OUR SIN OFFERING. HE OFFERED HIS BODY–AS MEAT AND BREAD–THE TITHE.
The Opposite System…..In the Bible, the money was NOT given to leadership to build and operate a church building. It was Spirit-lead giving–to the poor in the church–so that no one had lack. All the houses of God were cared for, they did not exalt one man’s house over another. No “Office” of priest–No tithe…..In the Bible only a priest collected a tithe. The “Old Covenant” had a specific priesthood–this priesthood is specifically done away with in the “New Covenant” and we are all made priests unto God–therefore there is no Christian who has the Biblical right to collect a tithe.
Exposing the tithe lie – Jack Helser (Below are some excerpts from this article)
Burdening the Body of Christ with the Tithe requires several twists and re-interpretations of “Scripture.”
1) The tithe must be imported from the OT law of Moses to the new covenant of grace by Christ’s blood.
2) The tithe must be re-defined from “flocks, herds, fruit and grain” to “money” and often “time”.
3) The storehouse must be re-defined from the temple in Jerusalem to the local church building.
4) The Body of Christ must buy into the ordained clergy as the new priesthood, thereby replacing the Levite priesthood as the rightful recipient of the tithe.
5) The Body of Christ must forfeit their own priesthood and buy into the notion that they are the “laity”.
I like the advice in this article. Gambling is a huge waste of money, but it still doesn’t come off as sinful as long as it doesn’t become an addiction or lead to greed, etc. Anything can be a sin it if taken too far. I think this is another thing Christians will debate about. Like Christmas and the Trinity.
a young lady just won the lottery in my state! I was happy she won because it was in my state and I’m sure she and her family needed the money! I am a single mother of two children with autism/ADHD! I Have probably have learning issues that prevented me from being successful & making a lot of money!
I believe in GOD/Jesus/ Holy Ghost!
I play the lottery! I don’t think I love money. if I loved money, I would keep my money and not play the lottery! I would not rob people. I know I robbed GOD by playing the lottery. This is probably why I’m in so much debt! If some one wins the lottery Christian or not! I feel they should help the poor or give it to tithes and offering but they didn’t work for it!
I will one day stop playing the Mega, Power Ball and Poker lotto!
I will be praying for my self and others to stop!
But let’s say you’re the type of person who only plays the lottery when the jackpot reaches 100mil or more. And let’s say the jackpot only reaches that amount 10 times per year. If you’re tithing regularly from your earned income from your job. Do you really think that $10 a year you’re spending on lottery tickets is that bad?
This sounds like a temptation straight from Satan’s mouth like when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. If a church knew the money was a tithe from gambling, I would vote to decline. If the money was given without reference, then I think the church is free to accept it. My question is why would someone admit to “tithing” on gambling winnings anyway, unless they are trying to stir up controversy or gain notoriety for themselves, which is not the true spirit of tithing. The apostle Paul made it quite clear in 1 Corinthians that we are NOT to partake of food we know has been sacrificed to idols. Gambling and lotteries are forms of idol worship. It’s lust and greed for money. As Christians we are to look to God for our provision, not idols. Better to tithe on what you earned honestly, than what was gotten in a way God frowns upon. Consider the widow’s mite and Jesus’ reaction to that. God will do miracles with our small things, if we seek His righteousness first and trust Him to do it. The Creator of heaven and earth and all that is in then does not need our money or our winfalls to advance His Kingdom. We need HIM!! Thank you and have a blessed day. :-)
HEATHER ,YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT SOUND DOCTRINE. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS SUBJECT MATTER.. PLEASE CONTINUE TO STUDY TO SHOW THY SELF APPROVED , RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH. IF MORE PEOPLE WOULD PRAY AND ASK GOD FOR DIRECTIONS , HE WILL REVEAL HIMSELF TO YOU.. ONCE GOD HAS SPOKEN TO YOU , IT IS UP TO YOU TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION ..
Further to my previous comment…
If, however, I felt led by the Holy Spirit to purchase a lottery ticket one day, and lo and behold, I won…I would definitely give a generous tithe of the first fruits to my church as an act of thanksgiving to and faith in my one true God, but I would do it anonymously, so as not to drag the Church into controversy or sin. Since I do NOT make a routine practice of gambling or purchasing lottery tickets, I would consider the leading to purchase one an act of God.
However, I do make tithing a routine practice. God has taught me much in the exercise of my faith in that regard.
One more thought, why is it some people are more than willing to give their hard earned money away to the government on the off chance of getting something in return, but they won’t give it freely to their own church first? Faith…or lack thereof. And greed. If everyone who bought lottery tickets on a regular basis gave that money to a church instead, how much more good would that do in our nation? Heck, if we just gave it outright to the government, we could retire the national debt, or at least slow it down, because there would be no future annuities to pay out to the lottery commissions. Just something to think about…
BASED UPON WHAT I KNOW ABOUT GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUS , I DON’T SEE HIM DOING THAT. JMF
Does the Bible teach us NOT to play a lottery?
From a book I just finished writing…….
“Some will say that lottery money is gambling, and they will equate gambling to a story about how Roman soldiers “cast lots” to obtain the robe that Jesus wore to His crucifixion.
Therefore, in their minds, “casting lots” is gambling, and gambling is illicit. This is because they were taught that from some fundamentalist pastor – or, they are ignorant of what God’s Word – the Bible – really says about “lots”.
Israel “cast lots” all the time. When it came time to divvy up the Promised Land, Joshua had his tribal leaders “cast lots”.
The “lucky winners” would get the best land….until the last of the land was “won” in the “lot”….The “lot” is the short version of the word – lottery.
I attempted to see if gambling…meaning paying a $1.00 for a “lot” ticket was illicit – from the Bible. I could not find anything that persuaded me that buying a “lot” was illicit. The opposite was true….”lot” tickets – pieces of paper (or, in the days of old – smooth stones) designed to allow people to “win” the luck of the draw was commonplace, in fact. So, I have no problem, personally, with buying a lottery ticket.
Perhaps if you are a pastor, you might like to contact me (with Bible verses in hand that are specific to “gambling”, and not ones that you can manipulate toward your theory), and I will be only too happy to correct it in my online e-book version of this book. I’m not too optimistic that I’ll be changing anything too soon! I made the same offer in all of my online articles on this subject. No takers.
However, “do everything in moderation” is a Biblical PRINCIPLE. You will not find that exact phrase in the Bible, but you will discover, in Titus 1:7-8 that we are to be TEMPERATE. Paul, the apostle of Jesus, was telling us what the requirements for becoming a pastor is: “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate…”
Those character traits of a pastor should also be found in any disciple – or follower of God’s teachings. The word TEMPERATE in the Greek is “Egkrates”., and it means
1. having power over, possessed of (a thing)
2. mastering, controlling, curbing, restraining or controlling one’s self, temperate.
We must always maintain control over all things, including buying a lottery ticket. Further, why do you want a lottery win? Is it for YOUR desires? If so, what are those desires?”
Any money I win from a lottery would go 90% to my charity and 10% to me. Working on it!
John Tyler, Author
Hi. I think there needs to be distinction made between compulsive casino style gambling or feeding huge amounts of money into poker machines that often leads to family’s devastation & ruin and purchasing $2 powerball tickets twice a week. I purchase $4 worth of powerball tickets & $2 worth of Mega Millions per week. So I spend $6 per week on lottery tickets. Not a cent more. Most people I know spend more than $6 a day on buying coffee. I never buy coffee, always take home made. I rarely have take out or eat food that I have not cooked from scratch myself. The lottery is my one indulgence. I win small amounts here and there and am thrilled for the winners who win big. I always pray to win. Nothing happens without divine permission, including winning the lottery. I have huge tithing plans if God permits me a win as well as helping loved ones.
I think a big part of this is the Heart? What is the driving purpose? Christ always talked about the heart. Did God not provide money to Nehemiah to rebuild the walls from an unbelieving King? Is there a difference in heart between someone who buys 1 ticket and prays than someone who buys dozens of tickets expecting to increase their “odds” of winning?
People can face some very difficult financial issues and struggle with HOPE. But they realize that it is God who can provide, are they trying to force God’s hand? I still feel the attitude of our heart is the first consideration.
Or am I trying trying to excuse this behaviour?
” THE EARTH IS THE LORDs AND AND THE FULLNESS THEREOF , THE WORLD , AND THEY THAT DWELL THEREIN. ” Psalm 24:1
” If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. THIS IS TO MY FATHERs GLORY , THAT YOU BEAR MUCH FRUIT , SHOWING YOURSELVES TO BE MY DISCIPLES. ” John 15:7 – 8
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
1 TIMOTHY 6 : 17-18
God is no stranger to riches , He has the most priceless Kingdom which is in Heaven and has prepared a place for us there to live in mansions and walk in streets of gold .
Neither is Jesus averse to the use of money in the course of His ministry on earth as he had Judas as treasurer .
I personally believe that the point here is about the RESPONSIBLE use of money , from small to large amounts , in the life of a Christian .
In 1TIMOTHY 6 : 17-18 , God does not condemn rich people but tells them to trust on God and not on their uncertain riches and advises them to use it to do good works towards their fellowmen .
The Bible did not say ” STAY AWAY FROM MONEY “, but rather ” stay away from the LOVE OF MONEY “.
Winnings from lottery draws , specially large sums , can be a TOOL which could be put towards a lot of good use from RESPONSIBLE Christians who are tempered by the Holy Spirit not to be overcome with greed and power arising from sudden affluence .
Aside from obeying God’s command of giving tithes and offerings to the church from this firstfruit , acts of charity towards genuine people in need can positively channel this blessing to benefit others as well .
Here’s a thought, buying lottery tickets sparingly or even on a routine bases is more or less a form of High Risk Investments, in my opinion. Looking at the big picture, your funds may wither away or turn into a small fortune.
Judas tried to give his blood money to the temple. They rejected it, and he went and hanged himself.
Okay, I am being admittedly provocative with my comparison. Nonetheless, while I respect the fact that many churches would have difficulty in accepting a gift deriving from gambling, I do think that if they decline a gift from one of their own congregation, then they owe them something of a responsibility to advise on what else to do with the money instead. He or she may have acted unwisely in buying a ticket, and the church wouldn’t want to encourage others to do the same, but what is done is done, and the situation needs to be taken from there. As we are agreed, a big lottery win is a potentially destructive event in someone’s life, so if a church is confronted with someone in that situation they need to think about that person’s pastoral needs, not just about whether they are going to accept the money or not.
By the way, for me this is all hypothetical, but clearly for some people out there it will be very real.
Whether you’ve sinned or not, the least you can do with any windfall, especially one reliant so much on random chance (meaning you really can’t be grateful to anyone BUT God), is to give your tithe. What’s the alternative, keeping it? I’d love to see someone justify that.
I don’t think it’s unwise to play the lottery nor do I agree that you’re not a good steward if you play it. Jesus said ” Whatsoever you ask in my name I will do it ” Whatsoever is emphatically whatever. If it is in his will for you and you handle it wisely, why wouldn’t he give it to you ? I know God doesn’t want you to end up like the prodigal son and I know he’ll want you to handle it wisely. Not sure he would want you to take the cash option if you’ve never had money like that. Most people who went broke a few years after they won probably took the cash option. God may want you to take the annuity, that way you have to still be wise and follow a budget and it will also keep you from being overwhelmed while limiting the greedy friends and family members from depending on you and not God to supply there needs and keep some of them from turning into your enemies.
should i time from the bus fare i get for school
Matthew 25:14-30 Talents
They invested money that was given to them… (free money) and rewarded. The servants invested for interest, so a gamble.
If you play lotto’s, most are run to help charities so you are helping others, if you win then tithe.
Only gamble if you can afford to lose the money, if you win, help others with a tithe.
I recently won a £250.00 prize from a Helicopter Rescue teams lotto as I donate £8.00 a month to their charity… So I was helping to keep this life saving organisation in the air by playing (gambling) on their ‘lotto’. I gave 10% of those winnings back, some to them, an African child charity (Child Safe Africa, if you want to donate) and a ministry I already tithe to, as well as a animal charity… If I did not play (donate) and win that charity lotto prize, those four charities would not have had anything extra, although only small donations, to help feed, water, cloth or help heal…
If you are sensible like those two servants, who gambled for the love of their master rather than the money, then you and your Christian family (and non-believers) can benefit from your giving from your gambling (investing)
God Bless you all, including large charitable Christian (and compassionate/charitable non believers) lotto winners, Gary.
My thought is….if they church feels that your lottery winning is a sin…don’t accept a tithe or offering from it.more likely than not they will not refuse it…
Perhaps tge winner is not financially irresponsible. Won’t be broke in a year and is about helping others with tge winnings.
Let everyone be persuaded in their own mind.
Believers are called to be Holy. For that is the nature of our Father. So lotto should never feature in a believers life. Lotto is worldliness and we are to be set apart from the world.
1 John 2:15-17