THE LOTTERY

 

"Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and

money is the answer to everything" (Eccl. 10:19). And truly in our

godless age nothing could be more idolized than the items thus mentioned

here. To eat, drink, and be merry is the dogma of our day. It is expected

of all that they will conform to this twisted standard and give

unflinching obedience to the god of the "good life". Of course everything

has its price and that includes the "good life". Every meal and every

drink has its fee and the greater the price the greater the satisfaction.

Therefore, if we are to maintain this high standard of living we must

have the finances available to relish in such pleasures. Thus, money

becomes the key to enjoyment; money becomes the central focus of our

ambitions; money becomes "the answer to everything".

And truly the things that can be bought with money are seemingly

endless. Amusements, recreations, immoralities, and countless other

diversions can all be bought for a price, and with enough money the price

can never be too high. But how can the simple man, the average Joe, come

into a state of affairs where he can truly enjoy these "great blessings".

Of course, if he attempted to gain these things by hard work he will be

at a major disadvantage because of the time it will take him to amass

enough wealth to indulge himself in these creature comforts (and besides

by then he will by far too old to enjoy them).

There is one hope though. One chance among millions. One blessed

dream that could change the course of his life. One great possibility

that could direct him through the doors of ease and comfort for the

remainder of his days. And it is so easy and economical that he can

afford to donate his time and earnings to it on a regular basis. He may,

if it so pleases our restless hero, spin the proverbial wheel of chance

monthly, weekly, and even daily. What is that blessed hope of salvation

that could lead to the success and consummation of our hero's quest if

only the most splendid and esteemed mistress Lady Luck will be merciful

to our ambitious champion? Why, of course, it is the Lottery.

SING IT, KENNY

Granted, the media has us convinced that the lottery is an

acceptable thing, a reasonable thing, even a necessary thing. Yet it is

my contention that the lottery is nothing more than a watered-down form

of gambling. It is a leech which slowly drains our God-given funds. It

emphasizes man's sinfulness in greed and discontent and should be shunned

by all that profess reliance upon the Lord and His providence.

Why would someone desire to play the lottery? What is their

motivation? The goal of the gambler is quite clear: To make as much money

with as little effort as possible. These two motivations: 1) To make much

money, and 2) to expend as little effort as possible in the attaining of

it, are contrary to all that the Christian should be in name and

attitude.

HOW DO YOU SPELL LOTTERY---G.R.E.E.D.

First, no matter how you rationalize it, the goal of playing the

lottery is to attain a mass of wealth. The goal is GREED. There is no

other way around it. Of course, some who play would say much to the

contrary. Their response to the charge of greed as their motivator would

be, "We just want to be secure", or "I'm would just like to take it easy

for awhile", or (blasphemy of blasphemies) "If I won, I sure could help

the church out". Dear friend, even the Pharisees who were lovers of money

themselves (Luke 16:14) had enough reverence when Judas threw the

betrayal money back at them not to use it for sacred things but to

instead buy a field with it. Do you think then that good can come from

evil? Do you honestly think that God needs your blood money to accomplish

his purposes? Or are you still as yet not convinced that gambling, even

in the watered-down version of the lottery, is a moral evil and offence

unto the Holy God?

The Bible says that "in the last days men will be lovers of self,

lovers of money." (2 Tim. 3:2). Worldly men are characterized by worldly

passions such as self-love and greed. Should these same qualities

characterize the Christian? Greed is displayed as one of the features of

a depraved mind (Rom 1:28-29) right in there with other sins such as

murder, deceitfulness, hating God, ect. "Oh, but it is such a little sin"

you say in comparison to these others. Then why, pray tell, does it have

such "worthy" bed-partners. Learn, O Christian, that all sin, great or

small, is a stench in the nostrils of a Holy and Majestic God and is so

putrid and horrifying to His senses that punishment for just one of your

so-called "small" sins would be an everlasting torment in hell away from

God and all that is good with weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth

time without end.

The Scriptures are clear: "Do not let immorality...or greed even be

named among you, as is proper among saints" (Eph. 5:3) and "Consider the

members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion,

evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry" (Col 3:5). Here again,

we see that Greed has such "worthy" partners; evil desires, immorality

and the like. Greed is not even to be heard of among Christians and is

idolatry (read the last part of Col 3:5 again if you still remain

unconvinced).

"But I'm not greedy" you cry, "I just want a few good things, some

security, some time to myself, ect.". Your wimperings will get you

nowhere. What is greed but a longing for riches and what does the Bible

say about that: "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" (1 Tim

6:10). Have you been wandering away from the providence of God my friend

by longing for much riches through the lottery? If so, the next verse has

a vital message you need to hear, understand and obey: "But FLEE from

these things, you man of God" (1 Tim. 6:11). O Man of God who trusts in

Lady Luck to provide for him, don't try to reason out of it or

rationalize this message away. Obey the Scriptures, repent of your sin.

In a word; Flee!

LABOR AND CONTENTMENT

Or are you not content with the lot that God has graciously given

you? Is there any good thing that you have from God that you did not

receive? Do you think you deserve more? Are you of such noble character

and moral purity that you deserve ample compensation for all your lusts

and desires at your bidding? And would you now attempt to stick your hand

in the forbidden cookie jar to gain more than God has given? O foolish

and pitiful man. It is God that gives you the strength to work. It is God

that provides you with the skills and knowledge to labor. It is God who

provides your every need by His great providence. And it is God who has

shown us the way in which He would have us to increase monetarily, and

that is by honest, hard labor that benefits others. The Thessalonians

were told to "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life... and work with

your hands" (1 Thes. 4:11) and that "if anyone will not work neither let

him eat" (2 Thes. 3:10). Though God at one time sustained His people by a

constant supply of manna, He now sustains His people chiefly by granting

them the strength and abilities to labor for the common good and by that

labor to increase financially.

Listen well to this verse and take it to heart: "He who tills the

land will have plenty of food, but he who follows empty pursuits will

have poverty in plenty...he who makes haste to be rich will not go

unpunished" (Prov. 28:19-20). And what more is the lottery but then an

"empty and vain pursuit" in an attempt to "make haste to be rich". This

verse alone should be enough to stop any real Christian who bows to the

authority of Scripture to see the folly in playing the Lottery and repent

now of his sin before he encounters God's discipline: "he who makes hast

to be rich will not go unpunished".

What then should we do? We should be "free from the love of money,

being content with what we have" (Heb. 13:5). It is lack of that

contentment that results in stressful and sinful strivings against God's

providence. Simply be content, you are getting far less than what your

sins deserve! Have the attitude of Agur in the Proverbs who cried out to

God "give me neither poverty nor riches...lest I be full and deny Thee,

and say, "Who is the Lord?" or lest I be in want and steal, and profane

the name of my God" (Prov. 30:8-9). Desire a good name for "a good name

is to be more desired than great riches" (Prov. 22:1). If great riches

are your desire and you must gamble to gain them then you become nothing

more than a gambler. Your good name of saint is gone and your new names

of risk-taker, chance-monger, and gambler are fully deserved.

Jesus said, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of

greed" (Luk 12:15). I am convinced that one of the manifestations of

greed in its most heinous form (for it seems so innocent) is that idea

promoted and performed by the Lottery.

CONCLUSION

Phil 4:19 reads, "but my God shall supply all your need according to

His riches in glory by Christ Jesus". Do we really believe this? Does

this show in our actions? Does God provide through our Lord Jesus Christ

or through our Lord Lady Luck? Keep in mind that Jesus Himself said that

it is impossible to serve God and mammon. Who do you serve? Who do you

trust to supply your need? Did not at one time holy men of old pray "Give

us this day our daily bread" in humble reliance upon the Lord. You may

keep your harlot Lady Luck. I will neither receive from her hand nor beg

at her feet for her cup full of unbelief. My trust and rest is in the

Sovereign Lord and His providence in supplying every good thing to His

own. I can sing with David that my portion and cup truly overflow in

God's graciousness. You may feast with your Lady and share her cup of

abominations if you like, but please don't say you trust in God and His

providence, your actions betray you and likewise condemn you.

 

 


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