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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 the evils; because of this craving, some people have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves to the heart with many pains.
For the love of money is a root of all the evils; because of this craving, some people have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves to the heart with many pains.Furthermore, those whose goal is to be rich fall into temptation; they get trapped in many foolish and hurtful ambitions which plunge them into ruin and destruction.
When the quantity of goods increases, so does the number of parasites consuming them; so the only advantage to the owner is that he gets to watch them do it.
No one can be slave to two masters; for he will either hate the first and love the second, or scorn the second and be loyal to the first. You can’t be a slave to both God and money.
Wealth gotten by worthless means dwindles away, but he who amasses it by hard work will increase it.
Also, make it your ambition to live quietly, to mind your own business and to earn your living by your own efforts — just as we told you.
You say, “For me, everything is permitted”? Maybe, but not everything is helpful. “For me, everything is permitted”? Maybe, but as far as I am concerned, I am not going to let anything gain control over me.
Moshe answered the people, “Don’t be afraid, because God has come only to test you and make you fear him, so that you won’t commit sins.”
Do not oppress or rob your neighbor; specifically, you are not to keep back the wages of a hired worker all night until morning.
and said, ‘Here, Adonai our God has shown us his glory and his greatness! We have heard his voice coming from the fire, and we have seen today that God does speak with human beings, and they stay alive.
In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy.
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like sprouting leaves.
“Always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that sums up the teaching of the Torah and the Prophets.
The plans of the diligent lead only to abundance; but all who rush in arrive only at want.
Don’t exhaust yourself in pursuit of wealth; be smart enough to desist.If you make your eyes rush at it, it’s no longer there! For wealth will surely grow wings, like an eagle flying off to the sky.
He who farms his land will have plenty of food, but he who follows futilities will have plenty of poverty.A trustworthy person will receive many blessings, but one rushing to get rich will not go unpunished.
Due to some misfortune, the wealth turns to loss; and then if he has fathered a son, he has nothing to leave him.Just as he came from his mother’s womb, so he will go back naked as he came, and for his efforts he will take nothing that he can carry away in his hand.This too is a gross evil, that in every respect as he came, so will he go; thus what profit does he have after toiling to earn the wind?
Why spend money for what isn’t food, your wages for what doesn’t satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and you will eat well, you will enjoy the fat of the land.
“But as for you who abandon Adonai, who forget my holy mountain, who prepare a table for a Gad, a god of luck, and fill bowls of mixed wine for Meni, a god of destiny —I will destine you to the sword, you will all bow down to be slaughtered; because when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not hear, but did what was evil from my point of view and chose what did not please me.”
A partridge hatches eggs it did not lay; like this are those who get rich unjustly: in the prime of life their wealth will desert them; in the end they will prove to be fools.
They will throw their silver into the streets; their gold will be like something unclean. On the day of Adonai’s wrath their silver and gold won’t be able to rescue them. These things won’t satisfy their hunger, these things won’t fill their stomachs, because these are what caused them to sin.
Woe to those who think up evil and plan wickedness as they lie in bed. When morning comes, they do it, since they have it in their power.They covet fields and seize them; they take over houses as well, doing violence to both owner and house, to people and their inherited land.
Are there still ill-gotten gains in the house of the wicked? still the detestable short eifah-measure?Should I declare innocent wicked scales and a bag of fraudulent weights?The rich men there are full of violence, the inhabitants tell lies, with tongues of deceit in their mouths.
“‘Woe to him who seeks unjust gain for his household, putting his nest on the heights, in order to be safe from the reach of harm.
“Do not store up for yourselves wealth here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and burglars break in and steal.Instead, store up for yourselves wealth in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and burglars do not break in or steal.For where your wealth is, there your heart will be also.
What good will it do someone if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or, what can a person give in exchange for his life?
Yeshua said to him, “If you are serious about reaching the goal, go and sell your possessions, give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me!”But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he was wealthy.Then Yeshua said to his talmidim, “Yes. I tell you that it will be very hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.Furthermore, I tell you that it is easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”
“Woe to you hypocritical Torah-teachers and P’rushim! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.
“For it will be like a man about to leave home for awhile, who entrusted his possessions to his servants.To one he gave five talents [equivalent to a hundred years’ wages]; to another, two talents; and to another, one talent — to each according to his ability. Then he left.The one who had received five talents immediately went out, invested it and earned another five.Similarly, the one given two earned another two.But the one given one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.“After a long time, the master of those servants returned to settle accounts with them.The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the other five and said, ‘Sir, you gave me five talents; here, I have made five more.’His master said to him, ‘Excellent! You are a good and trustworthy servant. You have been faithful with a small amount, so I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and join in your master’s happiness!’Also the one who had received two came forward and said, ‘Sir, you gave me two talents; here, I have made two more.’His master said to him, ‘Excellent! you are a good and trustworthy servant. You have been faithful with a small amount, so I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and join in your master’s happiness!’“Now the one who had received one talent came forward and said, ‘I knew you were a hard man. You harvest where you didn’t plant and gather where you didn’t sow seed.I was afraid, so I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here! Take what belongs to you!’‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ said his master, ‘So you knew, did you, that I harvest where I haven’t planted? and that I gather where I didn’t sow seed?Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, so that when I returned, I would at least have gotten back interest with my capital!Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten.For everyone who has something will be given more, so that he will have more than enough; but from anyone who has nothing, even what he does have will be taken away.As for this worthless servant, throw him out in the dark, where people will wail and grind their teeth!’
As for what fell in the midst of thorns these are the ones who hear; but as they go along, worries and wealth and life’s gratifications crowd in and choke them, so that their fruit never matures.
Then to the people he said, “Be careful to guard against all forms of greed, because even if someone is rich, his life does not consist in what he owns.”
That’s how it is with anyone who stores up wealth for himself without being rich toward God.”
Sell what you own and do tzedakah — make for yourselves purses that don’t wear out, riches in heaven that never fail, where no burglar comes near, where no moth destroys.For where your wealth is, there your heart will be also.
No servant can be slave to two masters, for he will either hate the first and love the second, or scorn the second and be loyal to the first. You can’t be a slave to both God and money.”
“Once there was a rich man who used to dress in the most expensive clothing and spent his days in magnificent luxury.At his gate had been laid a beggar named El‘azar who was covered with sores.He would have been glad to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table; but instead, even the dogs would come and lick his sores.In time the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to Avraham’s side; the rich man also died and was buried.“In Sh’ol, where he was in torment, the rich man looked up and saw Avraham far away with El‘azar at his side.He called out, ‘Father Avraham, take pity on me, and send El‘azar just to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue, because I’m in agony in this fire!’However, Avraham said, ‘Son, remember that when you were alive, you got the good things while he got the bad; but now he gets his consolation here, while you are the one in agony.Yet that isn’t all: between you and us a deep rift has been established, so that those who would like to pass from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’“He answered, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house,where I have five brothers, to warn them; so that they may be spared having to come to this place of torment too.’But Avraham said, ‘They have Moshe and the Prophets; they should listen to them.’However, he said, ‘No, father Avraham, they need more. If someone from the dead goes to them, they’ll repent!’But he replied, ‘If they won’t listen to Moshe and the Prophets, they won’t be convinced even if someone rises from the dead!’”
On hearing this Yeshua said to him, “There is one thing you still lack. Sell whatever you have, distribute the proceeds to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me!”But when the man heard this, he became very sad, because he was very rich.Yeshua looked at him and said, “How hard it is for people with wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!It’s easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God!”
He made a whip from cords and drove them all out of the Temple grounds, the sheep and cattle as well. He knocked over the money-changers’ tables, scattering their coins;and to the pigeon-sellers he said, “Get these things out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market?”
But there was a man named Hananyah who, with his wife Shappirah, sold some propertyand, with his wife’s knowledge, withheld some of the proceeds for himself; although he did bring the rest to the emissaries.Then Kefa said, “Why has the Adversary so filled your heart that you lie to the Ruach HaKodesh and keep back some of the money you received for the land?
Shim‘on saw that the Spirit was given when the emissaries placed their hands on them, and he offered them money.“Give this power to me, too,” he said, “so that whoever I place my hands on will receive the Ruach HaKodesh.”But Kefa said to him, “Your silver go to ruin — and you with it, for thinking the free gift of God can be bought!
Love does not do harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fullness of Torah.Don’t owe anyone anything — except to love one another; for whoever loves his fellow human being has fulfilled Torah.For the commandments, “Don’t commit adultery,” “Don’t murder,” “Don’t steal,” “Don’t covet,” and any others are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
No, what I wrote you was not to associate with anyone who is supposedly a brother but who also engages in sexual immorality, is greedy, worships idols, is abusive, gets drunk or steals. With such a person you shouldn’t even eat!
who steal, who are greedy, who get drunk, who assail people with contemptuous language, who rob — none of them will share in the Kingdom of God.Don’t you know that unrighteous people will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don’t delude yourselves — people who engage in sex before marriage, who worship idols, who engage in sex after marriage with someone other than their spouse, who engage in active or passive homosexuality,
Well, whatever you do, whether it’s eating or drinking or anything else, do it all so as to bring glory to God.
Every week, on Motza’ei-Shabbat, each of you should set some money aside, according to his resources, and save it up; so that when I come I won’t have to do fundraising.
Each should give according to what he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
The thief must stop stealing; instead, he should make an honest living by his own efforts. This way he will be able to share with those in need.
Among you there should not even be mentioned sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or greed; these are utterly inappropriate for God’s holy people.Also out of place are obscenity and stupid talk or coarse language; instead, you should be giving thanks.For of this you can be sure: every sexually immoral, impure or greedy person — that is, every idol-worshipper — has no share in the Kingdom of the Messiah and of God.
Therefore, put to death the earthly parts of your nature — sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed (which is a form of idolatry);
Also, make it your ambition to live quietly, to mind your own business and to earn your living by your own efforts — just as we told you.Then your daily life will gain the respect of outsiders, and you will not be dependent on anyone.
He must not drink excessively or get into fights; rather, he must be kind and gentle. He must not be a lover of money.
For the love of money is a root of all the evils; because of this craving, some people have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves to the heart with many pains.Now true religion does bring great riches, but only to those who are content with what they have.For we have brought nothing into the world; and we can take nothing out of it;so if we have food and clothing, we will be satisfied with these.Furthermore, those whose goal is to be rich fall into temptation; they get trapped in many foolish and hurtful ambitions which plunge them into ruin and destruction.
As for those who do have riches in this present world, charge them not to be proud and not to let their hopes rest on the uncertainties of riches but to rest their hopes on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.Charge them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and ready to share.In this way they will treasure up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may lay hold of the real life.
For an overseer, as someone entrusted with God’s affairs, must be blameless — he must not be self-willed or quick-tempered, he must not drink excessively, get into fights or be greedy for dishonest gain.
For you shared the sufferings of those who had been put in prison. Also when your possessions were seized, you accepted it gladly; since you knew that what you possessed was better and would last forever.
Keep your lives free from the love of money; and be satisfied with what you have; for God himself has said, “I will never fail you or abandon you.”
But let the rich brother boast about his being humbled; since, like a wildflower, he will pass away.For just as the sun rises with the sharav and dries up the plant, so that its flower falls off and its beauty is destroyed, so too the rich person going about his business will wither away.Let the brother in humble circumstances boast about his high position.
Listen, my dear brothers, hasn’t God chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith and to receive the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?But you despise the poor! Aren’t the rich the ones who oppress you and drag you into court?
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such-and-such a city, stay there a year trading and make a profit”!You don’t even know if you will be alive tomorrow! For all you are is a mist that appears for a little while and then disappears.Instead, you ought to say, “If Adonai wants it to happen, we will live” to do this or that.
Next, a word for the rich: weep and wail over the hardships coming upon you!Your riches have rotted, and your clothes have become moth-eaten;your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat up your flesh like fire! This is the acharit-hayamim, and you have been storing up wealth!
shepherd the flock of God that is in your care, exercising oversight not out of constraint, but willingly, as God wants; and not out of a desire for dishonest gain, but with enthusiasm;
In their greed they will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their punishment, decreed long ago, is not idle; their destruction is not asleep!
Do not love the world or the things of the world. If someone loves the world, then love for the Father is not in him;because all the things of the world — the desires of the old nature, the desires of the eyes, and the pretensions of life — are not from the Father but from the world.And the world is passing away, along with its desires. But whoever does God’s will remains forever.
If someone has worldly possessions and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how can he be loving God?
For you keep saying, ‘I am rich, I have gotten rich, I don’t need a thing!’ You don’t know that you are the one who is wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked!My advice to you is to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich; and white clothing, so that you may be dressed and not have to be ashamed of your nakedness; and eyesalve to rub on your eyes, so that you may see.
There are those with nothing who pretend they are rich, also those with great wealth who pretend they are poor.
Therefore he said, “A nobleman went to a country far away to have himself crowned king and then return.Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten manim [a maneh is about three months’ wages] and said to them, ‘Do business with this while I’m away.’But his countrymen hated him, and they sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to rule over us.’“However, he returned, having been made king, and sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what each one had earned in his business dealings.The first one came in and said, ‘Sir, your maneh has earned ten more manim.’‘Excellent!’ he said to him. ‘You are a good servant. Because you have been trustworthy in a small matter, I am putting you in charge of ten towns.’The second one came and said, ‘Sir, your maneh has earned five more manim;and to this one he said, ‘You be in charge of five towns.’“Then another one came and said, ‘Sir, here is your maneh. I kept it hidden in a piece of cloth,because I was afraid of you — you take out what you didn’t put in, and you harvest what you didn’t plant.’To him the master said, ‘You wicked servant! I will judge you by your own words! So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, taking out what I didn’t put in and harvesting what I didn’t plant?Then why didn’t you put my money in the bank? Then, when I returned, I would have gotten it back with interest!’To those standing by, he said, ‘Take the maneh from him and give it to the one with ten manim.’They said to him, ‘Sir, he already has ten manim!’But the master answered, ‘I tell you, everyone who has something will be given more; but from anyone who has nothing, even what he does have will be taken away.
Now the seed sown among thorns stands for someone who hears the message, but it is choked by the worries of the world and the deceitful glamor of wealth, so that it produces nothing.
For you have spent enough time already living the way the pagans want you to live — in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, wild parties and forbidden idol-worship.They think it strange that you don’t plunge with them into the same flood of dissoluteness, and so they heap insults on you.But they will have to give an account to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.
Therefore, let’s stop passing judgment on each other! Instead, make this one judgment — not to put a stumbling block or a snare in a brother’s way.
In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the ‘olam hazeh. Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what he wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed.
Don’t let love be a mere outward show. Recoil from what is evil, and cling to what is good.
The purpose of all toil is to fill the mouth, yet the appetite is never satisfied.What advantage has the wise over the fool, or the person with experience, if he is poor?Better what the eyes can see than meandering desire. Yet this too is pointless and feeding on wind.
for we must all appear before the Messiah’s court of judgment, where everyone will receive the good or bad consequences of what he did while he was in the body.Therefore, whether at home or away from home, we try our utmost to please him;
He chose being mistreated along with God’s people rather than enjoying the passing pleasures of sin.
He who loves his life loses it, but he who hates his life in this world will keep it safe right on into eternal life!If someone is serving me, let him follow me; wherever I am, my servant will be there too. My Father will honor anyone who serves me.
The King will say to them, ‘Yes! I tell you that whenever you did these things for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did them for me!’
Do not yoke yourselves together in a team with unbelievers. For how can righteousness and lawlessness be partners? What fellowship does light have with darkness?
How much better than gold it is to gain wisdom! Yes, rather than money, choose to gain understanding.
He said to them, “You people make yourselves look righteous to others, but God knows your hearts; what people regard highly is an abomination before God!
What will it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but destroys or forfeits his own life?