GAMBLING AND THE

BIBLE

The principal behind

gambling is the
mathematical theory
known as chances and
probability. There are
many incident in the Bible
where this theory of
chances and probability
was applied. The Bible
commonly refers to this
theory as "casting of lot".
We can note that from the
time of Moses, property or
inheritance for the house
of Israel was divided by
casting of lots.

Numbers 26:52-56
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying ... the land shall be divided by lot.

Joshua 14:2
By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

Joshua 18:6
Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description
hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.

Joshua 19:51
These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun,
and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an
inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD.

Joshua 21:8
And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their
suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

1 Chronicles 26:13-14
And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their
fathers, for every gate. And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah
his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.

Nehemiah 10:34
And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the
wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God.
Acts 1:23-26
And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and
Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all
men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen.... And they gave forth their
lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven
apostles.

Gambling is defined by Webster's Collegiate Dictionary as "to play or game for

money or other stake; to hazard; wager." Connected with gambling is the strong
element of uncertainty, the large chance of losing. It has been popularly defined
as "getting something for nothing without rendering service or exchange of goods,
and is essentially stealing and a form of robbery". It involves taking a risk in order
to obtain something for nothing and often means losing what one has and
obtaining nothing.

If that is the definition of gambling, investing in share market and buying

insurance is also a form as gambling. There is strong element of uncertainty. The
dividend that you earn from a share or insurance investment is also "getting
something for nothing” without rendering service or exchange of goods and is
essentially stealing and a form of robbery. When rich person claims his or her
"insured sum" of $1,000,000.00 for an unfortunate event, they are actually
"robbing" the premium of another poor person who may be paying a small
premium for "insured sum" of $10,000.00

The Church authority will never agree with this mainly because the Church Pastors
and staffs are very highly insured using the income from your tithes! The rich
people in your Church invest in share market and the Church authority will never
have the guts to question them because it will effect the Church income i.e
tithing.

Morally speaking, I would say that gambling is wrong because firstly the chances
and probability of you winning is very little. Secondly, the only way you have to
increase the chances and probability of you winning is by buying more lottery
tickets. The situation in "investing" in stock market and insurance is also the
same. The more stock or policy you buy, the better is your return.

In insurance, the chances and probability of a insured person claiming due to

accident, medical or death is marginally very small compared to the premium
collected by the company. So, the insurance company plays the gambling game
for you and pay your claims, bonuses, dividend and so on. Either you buy lottery
or "invest" your hard earn money in stock market or insurance policies, there is a
risk factor. There is strong element of uncertainty.

Matthew 6:26
26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and
yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Matthew 6:32-34
32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that
you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these
things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for
tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own

If you honestly belief in the verses above, you need not invest in insurance
policies and stock markets to take care of your future. You don't have to bet in
the next lottery draw to get rich quick.

We are not asking to stop investing in stock market or insurance policies. We are
trying to tell you that you cannot label investing in stock market and insurance
policies as "holy" and betting in the lottery as "unholy" when all the three have
the same mathematical principal governing them. It is the principal that matters
not the type of investment you chose to label them as "holy" or "unholy".