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104 Bible Verses About Gambling
I want to talk to you about something I've been reflecting on: using our resources wisely. The Bible teaches us to take care of our families, and that really hits home for me. It makes me think twice about risking what I have on things like gambling, hoping for a quick win. While the Bible doesn't specifically call out gambling, it gives us a lot of guidance to figure out how God feels about it.
Luke 12:1515 really speaks to me: "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." That's a powerful reminder that true wealth isn't about how much stuff we have. It's about something deeper.
And then there's Luke 12:4242: "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?" This verse challenges me to be a good steward of everything I've been blessed with. It reminds me to manage my resources wisely, appreciating everything I've received, and not throwing it away on risky choices.
For the love of money is a root of all evils, of which some by aspiring have strayed away from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
But those desiring to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many senseless and harmful lusts which sink men in destruction and perdition.For the love of money is a root of all evils, of which some by aspiring have strayed away from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
An envious man makes haste to be rich, and knows not that the merciful man will have the mastery over him.
If you are poor, measure not yourself with a rich man, but refrain yourself in your wisdom.
He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he who has loved gain, in the abundance thereof. This also is vanity.
"No one is able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and he will love the other, or else he will be devoted to the one, and he will despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Wealth gotten hastily with iniquity is diminished, but he that gathers for himself with godliness shall be increased. The righteous man is merciful, and lends.
and that you aspire to be quiet, and to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, just as we commanded you,
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife; you shall not covet your neighbor's house; nor his field, nor his servant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor any of his cattle, nor whatever belongs to your neighbor.
You shall not injure your neighbor, neither shall you rob him, neither shall the wages of your hireling remain with you until the morning.
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife; you shall not covet your neighbor's house, nor his field, nor his male servant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor any beast of his, nor anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Finally, brothers, as many things as are true, as many as are honorable, as many as are just, as many as are pure, as many as are lovely--if there is any virtue and if there is any praise--meditate on these things.
Poverty brings a man low, but the hands of the vigorous make rich. (10:4A) A son who is instructed shall be wise, and shall use the fool for a servant.
Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, thus also you do to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
A receiver of bribes destroys himself, but he that hates the receiving of bribes is safe. (15:27A) By alms and by faithful dealings sins are purged away, but by the fear of the Lord everyone departs from evil.
(16:5B) He that seeks the Lord shall find knowledge with righteousness, and they that rightly seek Him shall find peace.
A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise, but foolish men will swallow it up.
He that oppresses the poor, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.
If you are poor, measure not yourself with a rich man, but refrain yourself in your wisdom.If you should fix your eye upon him, he will disappear; for wings like an eagle's are prepared for him, and he returns to the house of his master.
He that tills his own land shall be satisfied with bread, but he that follows idleness shall have plenty of poverty.A man worthy of credit shall be much blessed, but the wicked shall not be unpunished.
There is an infirmity which I have seen under the sun, namely, wealth kept for its owner to his own hurt.And that wealth shall perish in an evil trouble, and the man begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand.As he came forth naked from his mother's womb, he shall return back as he came, and he shall receive nothing for his labor, that it should go with him in his hand.
Why do you value at the price of money, and give your labor for that which will not satisfy? Hearken to Me, and you shall eat that which is good, and your soul shall feast itself on good things.
But you are they that have left Me, and forget My holy mountain, and prepare a table for the devil, and fill up the drink offering to Fortune.I will deliver you up to the sword, you shall all fall by slaughter; for I called you, and you hearkened not; I spoke, and you refused to hear; and you did evil in My sight, and chose the things in which I do not delight.
The partridge utters her voice; she gathers eggs which she did not lay. So is a man gaining his wealth unjustly: in the midst of his days his riches shall leave him, and at his latter end he will be a fool.
Their silver shall be cast forth in the streets, and their gold shall be despised: their souls shall not be satisfied, and their bellies shall not be filled; for it was the punishment of their iniquities.
They meditated troubles, and wrought wickedness on their beds, and they put it in execution with the daylight; for they have not lifted up their hands to God.And they desired fields, and plundered orphans, and oppressed families, and spoiled a man and his house, even a man and his inheritance.
Is there not fire, and the house of the wicked heaping up wicked treasures, and that with the pride of unrighteousness?Shall the wicked be justified by the balanced, or deceitful weights in the bag,whereby they have accumulated their ungodly wealth, and they that dwell in the city have uttered falsehoods, and their tongue has been exalted in their mouth?
Woe to him that covets an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evils.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves dig through and steal;but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts, and where thieves do not dig through and steal.For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give as an exchange for his soul?
Jesus said to him, "If you desire to be perfect, go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."But when the young man heard the word, he went away grieved, for he had many possessions.Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly I say to you, that with difficulty a rich man shall enter the kingdom of heaven.And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and unrighteousness.
"For it is as if a man leaving on a journey, who called his own servants and handed over his possessions to them.And to the one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.Then the one receiving the five talents went and traded with them, and made five other talents.And likewise the one receiving the two gained two more also.But the one receiving one went away and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.Then after much time, the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.And the one who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I gained five more talents besides them.'"His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'"And also the one receiving the two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'"His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'"Then the one having received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you, that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.And being afraid, I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.'"But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter.Therefore you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received what is mine with interest.Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but to him who does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.And cast the useless servant into the darkness outside. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
And that which fell among thorns, these are those, who when they heard, go out and are choked with anxieties, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
Sell your possessions and give alms; make for yourselves money bags which do not grow old, an unfailing treasure in the heavens, where a thief does not come near, nor does a moth destroy.For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were hearing all these things, and they were mocking Him.
"Now there was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, enjoying himself splendidly every day.But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores, who had been placed at his gate,and longing to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. And even the dogs came and would lick his sores.And it came to pass that the beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham from afar, and Lazarus in his bosom.Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am suffering in this flame.'But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things, but now here he is comforted and you are suffering.And besides all this, between us and you a great gulf has been fixed, so that those who desire to cross over from here to you are not able, nor may those from there cross over to us.'Then he said, 'Therefore I beseech you, father, that you would send him to my father's house,for I have five brothers, so that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if someone from the dead should go to them, they will repent.'But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded should one rise from the dead.' "
So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, "Still one thing you lack: sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."But when he heard this, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.And when Jesus saw that he became very sad, He said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
And having made a scourge out of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and He poured out the coins of the moneychangers, and He overturned the tables.And He said to those selling the doves, "Take these things away from here! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!"
But a certain man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.And he kept back for himself from the price, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and placed it beside the feet of the apostles.But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart for you to lie to the Holy Spirit, and for you to keep back for yourself from the price of the land?
Now when Simon observed that by the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,saying, "Give me this power also, that on whom ever I lay my hands he may receive the Holy Spirit."But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought to acquire the gift of God through money!
Owe nothing to no one, except to love one another, for he who loves one another has fulfilled the law.For, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not kill," "You shall not steal," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, in this word it is summed up, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
But now I write to you not to associate with anyone named a brother, who is a fornicator, or covetous person, or an idolater, or abusive person, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a person.
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,nor covetous, nor thieves, nor drunkards, nor abusive people, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God.
On the first day of the week let each one of you put something aside, storing up whatever he may prosper, in order that there be no collections when I come.
Let each one give just as he decides in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working that which is good with his hands, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;neither wickedness, nor foolish talk or coarse jesting, which are not proper, but rather thanksgiving.For this you know, that no fornicator, or unclean person, nor covetous person, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Therefore put to death your members on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.
and that you aspire to be quiet, and to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, just as we commanded you,in order that you may walk decently toward those outside, and may have need of nothing.
not given to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not loving money;
But godliness with contentment is great gain.For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that neither can we carry anything out!But having food and clothing, with these things we shall be content.But those desiring to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many senseless and harmful lusts which sink men in destruction and perdition.For the love of money is a root of all evils, of which some by aspiring have strayed away from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to put their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God, who provides all things richly for us to enjoy,to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, sharing,storing up for yourselves a good foundation for the future, that they may lay hold of eternal life.
For a bishop must be unimpeachable, as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
For you sympathized with me in my chains, and you received the plunder of your possessions with joy, knowing that you have for yourselves a better and enduring possession in heaven.
Let your way of life be without loving money, being satisfied with what you have. For He Himself has said, "By no means shall I desert you, nor in any way shall I forsake you;"
Let the lowly brother rejoice in his exaltation,but the rich man in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.For the sun arose with burning heat and withered the grass, and its flower fell off, and its beautiful appearance perished. So the rich man also shall fade away in his pursuits.
Listen, my beloved brothers. Did God not choose the poor of the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those that love Him?But you have dishonored the poor. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into court?
Come now, you who say, "Today and tomorrow let us travel to this city, and let us spend a year there, and let us trade and make a profit"--you who do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? For it will be a vapor that appears for a little time, but then also disappears.Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."
Listen now, you rich, weep and howl at your miseries which are coming upon you!Your riches have decayed, and your garments have become moth-eaten.Your gold and silver have become corroded, and their poison will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You stored up treasure in the last days.
shepherd the flock of God among you, overseeing not by compulsion, but rather willingly, not in fondness for dishonest gain, but rather eagerly;
And by covetousness they will exploit you with fabricated words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction will not sleep.
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.Because everything that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not from the Father but is from the world.And the world is passing away, and its lust; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother having need, and shuts off his compassion towards him, how does the love of God abide in him?
Because you say, 'I am wealthy, and have become rich, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked,I counsel you to buy from Me gold having been tried by fire, so that you may become rich; and white robes, so that you may be clothed, and the shame of your nakedness may not appear; and eye salve, so that you may anoint your eyes, in order that you may see.
There are some who, having nothing, enrich themselves, and there are some who bring themselves down in the midst of much wealth.
Therefore He said: "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.And having called ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.'But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We will not have this man to reign over us.'And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, that he commanded those servants to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, so that he might know who gained what by trading.Then came the first, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned ten minas.'And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.'And the second came, saying, 'Master, your mina made five minas.'Likewise he said to him, 'You also be over five cities.'Then another came, saying, 'Master, behold your mina, which I had laid away in a handkerchief.For I feared you, because you are a harsh man. You take up what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'And he said to him, 'Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was a harsh man, taking up what I did not deposit, and reaping what I did not sow.Why then did you not give my money to a bank, and when I came, I would have collected it with interest?'And he said to those standing by, 'Take the mina away from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.'"But they said to him, 'Master, he has ten minas.'For I say to you that to everyone who has, more shall be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.
But the seed sown in the thorns is he who hears the word, and the anxiety of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches chokes out the word, and it becomes fruitless.
For we have spent enough of our past lifetime to accomplish the will of the Gentiles--having walked in wantonness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.In regard to these, they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same flood of debauchery, reviling you.They will render an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Therefore let us no longer judge one another, but judge this rather, not to put a stumbling block or an offense before our brother.
And do not fashion yourselves after this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and well pleasing and perfect will of God.
All the labor of a man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite shall not be satisfied.For what advantage has the wise man over the fool, since even the poor knows how to walk in the direction of life?The sight of the eyes is better than that which wanders in soul. This is also vanity, and grasping for the wind.
Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether being at home, or being away from home, to be well pleasing to Him.For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, in accordance with the things which he did, whether good or bad.
choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to have the temporary pleasure of sin,
These are the ways of all that perform lawless deeds; for by ungodliness they destroy their own life.
He that loves his life shall lose it, and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it for eternal life.And if anyone serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant shall be also. If anyone serve Me, him My Father will honor.
"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.'
Do not become unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what participation is there for righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion is there for light with darkness?
The brood of wisdom is more to be chosen than gold, and the brood of prudence more to be chosen than silver.
And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. Because that which is exalted among men is an abomination before God.