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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.
The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some have wandered away from the faith and have impaled themselves with a lot of pain because they made money their goal.
The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some have wandered away from the faith and have impaled themselves with a lot of pain because they made money their goal.But people who are trying to get rich fall into temptation. They are trapped by many stupid and harmful passions that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
The money lover isn’t satisfied with money; neither is the lover of wealth satisfied with income. This too is pointless.
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to the one and have contempt for the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
Riches gotten quickly will dwindle, but those who acquire them gradually become wealthy.
Aim to live quietly, mind your own business, and earn your own living, just as I told you.
I have the freedom to do anything, but not everything is helpful. I have the freedom to do anything, but I won’t be controlled by anything.
Do not desire and try to take your neighbor’s house. Do not desire and try to take your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox, donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.
You must not oppress your neighbors or rob them. Do not withhold a hired laborer’s pay overnight.
Do not desire and try to take your neighbor’s wife. Do not crave your neighbor’s house, field, male or female servant, ox, donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.
The treasure of the wicked won’t profit them, but righteousness rescues people from death.
From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise.
Those who trust in their wealth will wither, but the righteous will thrive like leafy trees.
Therefore, you should treat people in the same way that you want people to treat you; this is the Law and the Prophets.
Those who acquire things unjustly gain trouble for their house, but those who hate bribes will live.
A good reputation is better than much wealth; high esteem is better than silver and gold.
Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich; be smart enough to stop.When your eyes fly to wealth it is gone; it grows wings like an eagle and flies heavenward.
Those who work the land will have plenty to eat, but those with worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.Reliable people will have abundant blessings, but those with get-rich-quick schemes won’t go unpunished.
I have seen a sickening tragedy under the sun: people hoard their wealth to their own detriment.Then that wealth is lost in a bad business venture so that when they have children, they are left with nothing.Just as they came from their mother’s womb naked, naked they’ll return, ending up just like they started. All their hard work produces nothing—nothing they can take with them.
Why spend money for what isn’t food, and your earnings for what doesn’t satisfy? Listen carefully to me and eat what is good; enjoy the richest of feasts.
But you who abandon the LORD, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for a god of good fortune, and fill cups of mixed wine for a god of fate:I will offer you to the sword. You will all bow down for slaughter, because I called and you didn’t answer; I spoke and you wouldn’t hear. You did what I considered evil, and chose what I didn’t want.
Like a partridge gathering a brood that is not its own, so are those who acquire their wealth corruptly. By midlife it will be gone; afterward they will look like fools.
They will hurl their silver into the street, and their gold will seem unclean. Their silver and their gold won’t deliver them on the day of the LORD’s anger. They won’t satisfy their appetites or fill their bellies. Their guilt will bring them down.
Doom to those who devise wickedness, to those who plan evil when they are in bed. By the light of morning they do it, for they are very powerful.They covet fields and seize them, houses and take them away. They oppress a householder and those in his house, a man and his estate.
Are the treasures of wickedness still in the house of wickedness, while the shorted basket is denounced? Can I approve wicked scales and a bag of false weightsin a city whose wealthy are full of violence and whose inhabitants speak falsehood with lying tongues in their mouths?
Doom to the one making evil gain for his own house, for putting his own nest up high, for delivering himself from the grasp of calamity.
“Stop collecting treasures for your own benefit on earth, where moth and rust eat them and where thieves break in and steal them.Instead, collect treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust don’t eat them and where thieves don’t break in and steal them.Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Why would people gain the whole world but lose their lives? What will people give in exchange for their lives?
Jesus said, “If you want to be complete, go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come follow me.”But when the young man heard this, he went away saddened, because he had many possessions.Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I assure you that it will be very hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.In fact, it’s easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”
“How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and plate, but inside they are full of violence and pleasure seeking.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was leaving on a trip. He called his servants and handed his possessions over to them.To one he gave five valuable coins, and to another he gave two, and to another he gave one. He gave to each servant according to that servant’s ability. Then he left on his journey. “After the man left, the servant who had five valuable coins took them and went to work doing business with them. He gained five more.In the same way, the one who had two valuable coins gained two more.But the servant who had received the one valuable coin dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.“Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.The one who had received five valuable coins came forward with five additional coins. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five valuable coins. Look, I’ve gained five more.’“His master replied, ‘Excellent! You are a good and faithful servant! You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.’“The second servant also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two valuable coins. Look, I’ve gained two more.’“His master replied, ‘Well done! You are a good and faithful servant. You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.’“Now the one who had received one valuable coin came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man. You harvest grain where you haven’t sown. You gather crops where you haven’t spread seed.So I was afraid. And I hid my valuable coin in the ground. Here, you have what’s yours.’“His master replied, ‘You evil and lazy servant! You knew that I harvest grain where I haven’t sown and that I gather crops where I haven’t spread seed?In that case, you should have turned my money over to the bankers so that when I returned, you could give me what belonged to me with interest.Therefore, take from him the valuable coin and give it to the one who has ten coins.Those who have much will receive more, and they will have more than they need. But as for those who don’t have much, even the little bit they have will be taken away from them.Now take the worthless servant and throw him out into the farthest darkness.’ “People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.
As for the seed that fell among thorny plants, these are the ones who, as they go about their lives, are choked by the concerns, riches, and pleasures of life, and their fruit never matures.
Then Jesus said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourself against all kinds of greed. After all, one’s life isn’t determined by one’s possessions, even when someone is very wealthy.”
This is the way it will be for those who hoard things for themselves and aren’t rich toward God.”
Sell your possessions and give to those in need. Make for yourselves wallets that don’t wear out—a treasure in heaven that never runs out. No thief comes near there, and no moth destroys.Where your treasure is, there your heart will be too.
No household servant can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to the one and have contempt for the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
“There was a certain rich man who clothed himself in purple and fine linen, and who feasted luxuriously every day.At his gate lay a certain poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores.Lazarus longed to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Instead, dogs would come and lick his sores.“The poor man died and was carried by angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.While being tormented in the place of the dead, he looked up and saw Abraham at a distance with Lazarus at his side.He shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I’m suffering in this flame.’But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received good things, whereas Lazarus received terrible things. Now Lazarus is being comforted and you are in great pain.Moreover, a great crevasse has been fixed between us and you. Those who wish to cross over from here to you cannot. Neither can anyone cross from there to us.’“The rich man said, ‘Then I beg you, Father, send Lazarus to my father’s house.I have five brothers. He needs to warn them so that they don’t come to this place of agony.’Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets. They must listen to them.’The rich man said, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will change their hearts and lives.’Abraham said, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, then neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’”
When Jesus heard this, he said, “There’s one more thing. Sell everything you own and distribute the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.”When he heard these words, the man became sad because he was extremely rich.When Jesus saw this, he said, “It’s very hard for the wealthy to enter God’s kingdom!It’s easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”
He made a whip from ropes and chased them all out of the temple, including the cattle and the sheep. He scattered the coins and overturned the tables of those who exchanged currency.He said to the dove sellers, “Get these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a place of business.”
However, a man named Ananias, along with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property.With his wife’s knowledge, he withheld some of the proceeds from the sale. He brought the rest and placed it in the care and under the authority of the apostles.Peter asked, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has influenced you to lie to the Holy Spirit by withholding some of the proceeds from the sale of your land?
When Simon perceived that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.He said, “Give me this authority too so that anyone on whom I lay my hands will receive the Holy Spirit.”Peter responded, “May your money be condemned to hell along with you because you believed you could buy God’s gift with money!
Love doesn’t do anything wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is what fulfills the Law.Don’t be in debt to anyone, except for the obligation to love each other. Whoever loves another person has fulfilled the Law.The commandments, “Don’t commit adultery, don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t desire what others have,” and any other commandments, are all summed up in one word: “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”
But now I’m writing to you not to associate with anyone who calls themselves “brother” or “sister” who is sexually immoral, greedy, someone who worships false gods, an abusive person, a drunk, or a swindler. Don’t even eat with anyone like this.
Don’t you know that people who are unjust won’t inherit God’s kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Those who are sexually immoral, those who worship false gods, adulterers, both participants in same-sex intercourse,thieves, the greedy, drunks, abusive people, and swindlers won’t inherit God’s kingdom.
No one should look out for their own advantage, but they should look out for each other.
So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, you should do it all for God’s glory.
On the first day of the week, each of you should set aside whatever you can afford from what you earn so that the collection won’t be delayed until I come.
Everyone should give whatever they have decided in their heart. They shouldn’t give with hesitation or because of pressure. God loves a cheerful giver.
Thieves should no longer steal. Instead, they should go to work, using their hands to do good so that they will have something to share with whoever is in need.
Sexual immorality, and any kind of impurity or greed, shouldn’t even be mentioned among you, which is right for holy persons.Obscene language, silly talk, or vulgar jokes aren’t acceptable for believers. Instead, there should be thanksgiving.Because you know for sure that persons who are sexually immoral, impure, or greedy—which happens when things become gods—those persons won’t inherit the kingdom of Christ and God.
So put to death the parts of your life that belong to the earth, such as sexual immorality, moral corruption, lust, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).
Aim to live quietly, mind your own business, and earn your own living, just as I told you.That way you’ll behave appropriately toward outsiders, and you won’t be in need.
They shouldn’t be addicted to alcohol or be a bully. Instead, they should be gentle, peaceable, and not greedy.
The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some have wandered away from the faith and have impaled themselves with a lot of pain because they made money their goal.Actually, godliness is a great source of profit when it is combined with being happy with what you already have.We didn’t bring anything into the world and so we can’t take anything out of it:we’ll be happy with food and clothing.But people who are trying to get rich fall into temptation. They are trapped by many stupid and harmful passions that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
Tell people who are rich at this time not to become egotistical and not to place their hope on their finances, which are uncertain. Instead, they need to hope in God, who richly provides everything for our enjoyment.Tell them to do good, to be rich in the good things they do, to be generous, and to share with others.When they do these things, they will save a treasure for themselves that is a good foundation for the future. That way they can take hold of what is truly life.
This is because supervisors should be without fault as God’s managers: they shouldn’t be stubborn, irritable, addicted to alcohol, a bully, or greedy.
You even showed sympathy toward people in prison and accepted the confiscation of your possessions with joy, since you knew that you had better and lasting possessions.
Your way of life should be free from the love of money, and you should be content with what you have. After all, he has said, “I will never leave you or abandon you”.
Those who are wealthy should find satisfaction in their low status, because they will die off like wildflowers.The sun rises with its scorching heat and dries up the grass so that its flowers fall and its beauty is lost. Just like that, in the midst of their daily lives, the wealthy will waste away.Brothers and sisters who are poor should find satisfaction in their high status.
My dear brothers and sisters, listen! Hasn’t God chosen those who are poor by worldly standards to be rich in terms of faith? Hasn’t God chosen the poor as heirs of the kingdom he has promised to those who love him?But you have dishonored the poor. Don’t the wealthy make life difficult for you? Aren’t they the ones who drag you into court?
Pay attention, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such-and-such a town. We will stay there a year, buying and selling, and making a profit.”You don’t really know about tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for only a short while before it vanishes.Here’s what you ought to say: “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
Pay attention, you wealthy people! Weep and moan over the miseries coming upon you.Your riches have rotted. Moths have destroyed your clothes.Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you. It will eat your flesh like fire. Consider the treasure you have hoarded in the last days.
Like shepherds, tend the flock of God among you. Watch over it. Don’t shepherd because you must, but do it voluntarily for God. Don’t shepherd greedily, but do it eagerly.
In their greed they will take advantage of you with lies. The judgment pronounced against them long ago hasn’t fallen idle, nor is their destruction sleeping.
Don’t love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them.Everything that is in the world—the craving for whatever the body feels, the craving for whatever the eyes see and the arrogant pride in one’s possessions—is not of the Father but is of the world.And the world and its cravings are passing away, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.
But if someone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but refuses to help—how can the love of God dwell in a person like that?
After all, you say, ‘I’m rich, and I’ve grown wealthy, and I don’t need a thing.’ You don’t realize that you are miserable, pathetic, poor, blind, and naked.My advice is that you buy gold from me that has been purified by fire so that you may be rich, and white clothing to wear so that your nakedness won’t be shamefully exposed, and ointment to put on your eyes so that you may see.
Some pretend to be rich but have nothing, while others pretend to be poor, but have great riches.
He said, “A certain man who was born into royalty went to a distant land to receive his kingdom and then return.He called together ten servants and gave each of them money worth four months’ wages.He said, ‘Do business with this until I return.’His citizens hated him, so they sent a representative after him who said, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’After receiving his kingdom, he returned and called the servants to whom he had given the money to find out how much they had earned.The first servant came forward and said, ‘Your money has earned a return of one thousand percent.’The king replied, ‘Excellent! You are a good servant. Because you have been faithful in a small matter, you will have authority over ten cities.’“The second servant came and said, ‘Master, your money has made a return of five hundred percent.’To this one, the king said, ‘You will have authority over five cities.’“Another servant came and said, ‘Master, here is your money. I wrapped it up in a scarf for safekeeping.I was afraid of you because you are a stern man. You withdraw what you haven’t deposited and you harvest what you haven’t planted.’The king replied, ‘I will judge you by the words of your own mouth, you worthless servant! You knew, did you, that I’m a stern man, withdrawing what I didn’t deposit, and harvesting what I didn’t plant?Why then didn’t you put my money in the bank? Then when I arrived, at least I could have gotten it back with interest.’“He said to his attendants, ‘Take his money and give it to the one who has ten times as much.’‘But Master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten times as much!’He replied, ‘I say to you that everyone who has will be given more, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.
As for the seed that was spread among thorny plants, this refers to those who hear the word, but the worries of this life and the false appeal of wealth choke the word, and it bears no fruit.
You have wasted enough time doing what unbelievers desire—living in their unrestrained immorality and lust, their drunkenness and excessive feasting and wild parties, and their forbidden worship of idols.They think it’s strange that you don’t join in these activities with the same flood of unrestrained wickedness. So they slander you.They will have to reckon with the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
So stop judging each other. Instead, this is what you should decide: never put a stumbling block or obstacle in the way of your brother or sister.
Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is—what is good and pleasing and mature.
All the hard work of humans is for the mouth, but the appetite is never full.What advantage do the wise have over the foolish? Or what do the poor gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before the living?It’s better to enjoy what’s at hand than to have an insatiable appetite. This too is pointless, just wind chasing.
We all must appear before Christ in court so that each person can be paid back for the things that were done while in the body, whether they were good or bad.So our goal is to be acceptable to him, whether we are at home or away from home.
He chose to be mistreated with God’s people instead of having the temporary pleasures of sin.
Those who love their lives will lose them, and those who hate their lives in this world will keep them forever.Whoever serves me must follow me. Wherever I am, there my servant will also be. My Father will honor whoever serves me.
“Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’
Don’t be tied up as equal partners with people who don’t believe. What does righteousness share with that which is outside the Law? What relationship does light have with darkness?
Acquiring wisdom is much better than gold, and acquiring understanding is better than silver.
He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before other people, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued by people is deeply offensive to God.
What advantage do people have if they gain the whole world for themselves yet perish or lose their lives?