Why I Hate The Lottery

The idea for this blog came to me recently when I was standing in line at a local convenience store…..for 10 minutes…..while the person in front of me was attempting to buy out the store’s allotment of lottery tickets…..then scratch everyone of them off while standing in line……then discussing how close they came to winning…….then actually winning $5……then taking 10 minutes to decide whether or not to pocket the money or buy more tickets…..then deciding to buy some more tickets…….ONLY TO REPEAT THE ABOVE CYCLE ONCE AGAIN!           

Actually, this isn’t the first time it’s happened.  It seems as though every convenience store in Kansas greets me with the same scenario.  Perhaps the gamblers see me coming and jump in line ahead of me only to bring frustration to my life.  Of course I know that isn’t the case.  In reality a sovereign God has ordained that I live in the midst of a lotto cesspool….so that I would offer this blog as another viewpoint on the sinful squandering of God’s resources…..also known as the lottery.

            Admittedly, the above example is not really a spiritual reason….its simply an annoyance in my life.  But I do believe there are some spiritual reasons to oppose the lottery and I offer them now.           

First, the lottery flourishes upon the principle of laziness.  People desire to make money and get rich, so they buy lottery tickets.  Actually, the Bible provides a way in which people can make money and even become wealthy.  It’s a long forgotten practice known as “work.”  God commanded Adam in the Garden of Eden saying:  “By the sweat of your face you will eat bread, until you return to the ground.” (Genesis 3:19)  Sometimes the question will arise about other means of making money.  What about investments?  What about inheritance?  Aren’t these honest ways of making money that don’t involve my working?  Yes…but they both have the foundation of being based on the “work” of someone.  When you buy stock, you are investing in a company made up of individuals who you are hoping will work hard and make the company a success.  When you buy a lottery ticket you are investing in nothing buy blind chance and the luck of the draw.  When you are granted an inheritance, you are given something that is the result of another’s hard work.  Again, the resources exist because of toil….not chance.  I hate the lottery because the lottery promotes laziness.           

Secondly, the lottery flourishes upon the principle of selfishness.  Being rich is not a sin.  DESIRING to be rich is a sin….at least according to the Bible.  “If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 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 and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:8-10 (NASB)  Money isn’t evil.  Making money isn’t evil.  But loving money is.  Not being content with “food and covering” is.  Lustful desires for wealth lead people into ruin….or as Paul says “temptation and a snare…..and destruction.”  WOW Paul, could you give us an example?  How about the lottery?  I wonder how many people have foolishly squandered money they couldn’t afford to lose because of their fleshly desires for wealth?           

Another argument in favor of the lottery is that it’s “only for fun.”  There’s nothing wrong with spending money to play a game is there?  Of course not.  GO BUY MONOPOLY!….OR go watch a football game.  Or go play a round of golf.  A certain amount of leisure activity is good…..but if your “hobby” is buying lottery tickets, find some other way to unwind.           

Third, the lottery is pathetic stewardship.  Granted, many of the lotto players of our world aren’t Christians and don’t care about being good stewards.  But some of our nations gamblers ARE Christians.  Every dime you possess is a gift from God.  Everything you have belongs to the LORD and you are only stewards or managers of it.  God has blessed you in many ways.  Shall you take GOD’S money and buy lottery tickets with it?  Shall you take GOD’S money and squander it on a game of chance?  Or shall you take GOD’S money and put it to good use?  Use the money to make more money in an honest and hard working fashion.  Or use it to provide for your family.  Or use it to save up an inheritance for your kids.  Or use it to further God’s kingdom on earth.  But don’t use GOD’S money to feed your insatiable desires for riches….and feed the State’s morbid agenda.  Which leads to my last issue with the lottery.  It funds a Godless entity.           

This is the argument you will hear from pro-lottery advocates:  the lottery helps fund the public schools.  In fact, when presented this way, the government will even convince you that you’re doing kids a favor by playing the lottery.  Those poor children won’t have school books unless you buy that Powerball ticket.  And without those books, they’ll never be able to teach these poor children the things they need to know so they can grow up to be Godless deadbeats as well.  Why it’s a “win-win” situation.  You play the lottery and squander your hard earned money (???Win???), while at the same time funding the schools so they can teach atheism, secularism, political correctness, homosexual tolerance, and evolution (???Win???).  Without doubt the lottery is a “win-win” situation….. for the Kingdom of Darkness.  Adults are enslaved by greed…..kids are enslaved by a Godless education.  And Satan sets back and smiles, for the lottery has done wonders in advancing his depraved agenda.  And how many Christians have shelled out the bucks at convenience stores all over America to advance this putrid cause……while I stand behind them in line for 30 minutes, waiting to buy my Dr. Pepper?

I have no problem funding good schools.  But if the ONLY way we can fund public schools is by having a lottery then maybe we need to do away with both.  On the contrary, I think there are other ways to fund education that won’t involve preying upon the greed or desparation of the “money hungry” among us.  Furthermore, I would prefer to fund schools that teach reading, writing, and arithmatic….and leave the social indoctrination to the parents who raise them.  Public school curriculum often ventures into areas that they have no business going into….and I have no desire to fund it. But that’s a blog for another day.  Today, I address the lottery….and in case you haven’t discovered…..I oppose it.

            Consider the verses I cited and think long and hard about what God would have you do with the resources He’s blessed you with.  “For we must all stand before the judgment seat of God…….then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:10, 12)  

This entry was posted on August 28, 2007 at 11:57 am and is filed under Political Issues. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

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