Seven Reasons Not to Play the Lottery

 Seven Reasons You Should Not Play the Lottery

Americans now spend more $70 billion annually on lottery tickets. This figure is higher than combined spending on video games, books, movies, and tickets to sporting events and sporting events. 43 states allow lotteries.

The Atlantic reports that this is more than $230 for each man, woman, child and adult in those states -- or $300 per adult.

I agree that this is a terrible report for our country. There are times when Mega Millions or Powerball lottery numbers rise to extraordinary levels and receive new attention in the media.

Here are seven reasons that I have repeatedly rehearsed in order to prove the point that it is wrong to gamble with money.

1. It is spiritually fatal.

"Those who seek to be rich fall prey to temptation, into a trap, and into many sinful and destructive desires that can lead people into ruin and disaster. . . . Some have left the faith and have felt many pains" (1 Timothy 6-10).

2. It is a type of embezzlement.

Managers won't gamble with their master's money. God has all of it. All of it. Faithful trustees cannot gamble with trust funds. They don't have any right. Jesus will be looking at how we have handled our money according to the parable about the talents. They went to work (Matthew 26:16-17). This is how we try to provide for ourselves (1 Corinthians 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:11; Ephesians 5:28).

3. It is a fool's game.

Nearly 176 million people have a chance of winning. It is possible to take real money and purchase a chance with it. The chance of buying a chance with real money is so insignificant that it's almost worthless. 175,999,999 times. The smaller amounts are more frequent and can be like a fog that prevents you from seeing the real picture.

4. The system was created because most people lose.

International Business Times states that lotteries "just another type of gambling" (without the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas). The 'house' is the one controlling the action. All players will lose eventually.

5. It preys on the weak.

The lottery promotes and supports "yet an additional corrosive addictive behavior that preys on the greedy, hopeless dreams and poverty-stricken people." . . . The Consumerist reported that Americans who earn less than $13,000 a year spend 9 percent of their income to buy lottery tickets. . . This 'harmless' game is now a deeply regressive' tax (ibid).

6. There is an alternative. Opinion research Corporation and the Financial Planning Association conducted a survey to determine if the lottery was a good way to make money. We are teaching people how to fool.

Every family would be able to have $24,000 if the $500 each year that American households spend on the lotto were invested in an Index Fund each year for 20 Years. Maybe. Really. The taxes on these earnings would support government services and be built on sound economic practices.

7. The government seeks quick money by destroying virtue that is essential for its survival.

A government that exploits the weaknesses and strengths of its citizens in order to raise money escapes accountability. Importantly, state-sponsored gambling undermines the civic virtue upon whose foundation democratic governance is based. (First Things, Sept., 1991, 12)

If you win the lottery, don't donate your winnings to charity. Christ doesn't build his church on the backs the poor. Pray Christ's people will find such satisfaction in him, that they will be free from the greed that causes us to want to be wealthy. How to Keep You Motivated to Play Lotto