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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 kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
The one who loves silver is never satisfied with silver, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile.
‘No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle, but whoever earns it through labour will multiply it.
to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
‘Everything is permissible for me,’ but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible for me,’ but I will not be mastered by anything.
Do not covet your neighbour’s house. Do not covet your neighbour’s wife, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.
‘Do not oppress your neighbour or rob him. The wages due a hired worker must not remain with you until morning.
Do not covet your neighbour’s wife or desire your neighbour’s house, his field, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.
Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable #– #if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy #– #dwell on these things.
Anyone trusting in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.
Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
The one who profits dishonestly troubles his household, but the one who hates bribes will live.
The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.
The one who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich.
Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of a wise person, but a fool consumes them. ,
Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself, and giving to the rich #– #both lead only to poverty.
Don’t wear yourself out to get rich; because you know better, stop!As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
Better the poor person who lives with integrity than the rich one who distorts right and wrong. ,
The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty. When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers, but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.A faithful person will have many blessings, but one in a hurry to get rich will not go unpunished.
There is a sickening tragedy I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.That wealth was lost in a bad venture, so when he fathered a son, he was empty-handed.As he came from his mother’s womb, so he will go again, naked as he came; he will take nothing for his efforts that he can carry in his hands.
Why do you spend silver on what is not food, and your wages on what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and you will enjoy the choicest of foods.
But you who abandon the Lord, who forget my holy mountain, who prepare a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you for the sword, and all of you will kneel down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not hear; you did what was evil in my sight and chose what I did not delight in.’
He who makes a fortune unjustly is like a partridge that hatches eggs it didn’t lay. In the middle of his life his riches will abandon him, so in the end he will be a fool.
They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will seem like something filthy. Their silver and gold will be unable to save them in the day of the Lord’s wrath. They will not satisfy their appetites or fill their stomachs, for these were the stumbling blocks that brought about their iniquity.
Woe to those who dream up wickedness and prepare evil plans on their beds! At morning light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands. Get up and leave, for this is not your place of rest because defilement brings destruction – a grievous destruction! If a man comes and utters empty lies – ‘I will preach to you about wine and beer’ – he would be just the preacher for this people! I will indeed gather all of you, Jacob; I will collect the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in the middle of its pasture. It will be noisy with people. One who breaks open the way will advance before them; they will break out, pass through the city gate, and leave by it. Their King will pass through before them, the Lord as their leader.They covet fields and seize them; they also take houses. They deprive a man of his home, a person of his inheritance.
Are there still the treasures of wickedness and the accursed short measure in the house of the wicked?Can I excuse wicked scales or bags of deceptive weights? For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; the tongues in their mouths are deceitful.
Woe to him who dishonestly makes wealth for his house , to place his nest on high, to escape the grasp of disaster!
‘Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life?
‘If you want to be perfect,’ Jesus said to him, ‘go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard that, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.’
‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
‘For it is just like a man about to go on a journey. He called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them.To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent, depending on each one’s ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediatelythe man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more.In the same way the man with two earned two more.But the man who had received 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 came and settled accounts with them.Five of them were foolish and five were wise.The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, “Master, you gave me five talents. See, I’ve earned five more talents.”‘His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.” ‘The man with two talents also approached. He said, “Master, you gave me two talents. See, I’ve earned two more talents.”‘His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.”‘The man who had received one talent also approached and said, “Master, I know you. You’re a harsh man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed.So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.”‘His master replied to him, “You evil, lazy servant! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered,then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and I would have received my money back with interest when I returned. ‘ “So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents.For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them;And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit.
He then told them, ‘Watch out and be on your guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.’
‘That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich towards God.’
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
No servant can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.’
The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and scoffing at him.
‘There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day.So he called the manager in and asked, “What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you can no longer be my manager.” But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was lying at his gate.He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man’s table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores.One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. , The rich man also died and was buried.And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side.“Father Abraham! ” he called out, “Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame! ” ‘ “Son,” Abraham said, “remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.”‘ “Father,” he said, “then I beg you to send him to my father’s house #– #because I have five brothers #– #to warn them, so that they won’t also come to this place of torment.” ‘But Abraham said, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.” ‘Then the manager said to himself, “What will I do since my master is taking the management away from me? I’m not strong enough to dig; I’m ashamed to beg.‘ “No, father Abraham,” he said. “But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.”‘But he told him, “If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.” ’
When Jesus heard this, he told him, ‘You still lack one thing: Sell all you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ After he heard this, he became extremely sad, because he was very rich. Seeing that he became sad, Jesus said, ‘How hard it is for those who have wealth 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 person to enter the kingdom of God.’
After making a whip out of cords, he drove everyone out of the temple with their sheep and oxen. He also poured out the money-changers’ coins and overturned the tables.He told those who were selling doves, ‘Get these things out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace! ’ ,
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property.Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband.Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s Colonnade.No one else dared to join them, but the people spoke well of them.Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers #– #multitudes of both men and women.As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.In addition, a multitude came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.Then the high priest rose up. He and all who were with him, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.So they arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said,However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. ‘Go and stand in the temple, and tell the people all about this life.’Hearing this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin #– #the full council of the Israelites #– #and sent orders to the jail to have them brought.But when the servants got there, they did not find them in the jail; so they returned and reported,‘We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.’As the captain of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, wondering what would come of this. Someone came and reported to them, ‘Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple and teaching the people.’Then the commander went with the servants and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them.After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked,‘Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.’ Peter and the apostles replied, ‘We must obey God rather than people.‘Ananias,’ Peter asked, ‘why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land?
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,saying, ‘Give me this power also so that anyone I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.’Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.But Peter told him, ‘May your silver be destroyed with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
But actually, I wrote you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister and is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he is prospering, so that no collections will need to be made when I come.
Each person should do as he has decided in his heart #– #not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.
Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need.
But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints.since we are members of his body.For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. ,This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church.To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.Obscene and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks.For know and recognise this: Every sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.
to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,so that you may behave properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone. ,
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share,storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life.
As an overseer of God’s household, he must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not an excessive drinker, not a bully, not greedy for money,
For you sympathised with the prisoners and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, because you know that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession. ,
Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you. ,
Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?Yet you have dishonoured the poor. Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into court?
Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.’Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring #– #what your life will be! For you are like vapour that appears for a little while, then vanishes. Instead, you should say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’
Come now, you rich people, weep and wail over the miseries that are coming on you.Brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name as an example of suffering and patience.See, we count as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome that the Lord brought about #– #the Lord is compassionate and merciful. Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no,’ so that you won’t fall under judgement. Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.Is anyone among you ill? He should call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.The prayer of faith will save the ill person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.Elijah was a human being as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land.Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its fruit. My brothers and sisters, if any among you strays from the truth, and someone turns him back,Your wealth has rotted and your clothes are moth-eaten.let that person know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasure in the last days.
Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly;
They will exploit you in their greed with made-up stories. Their condemnation, pronounced long ago, is not idle, and their destruction does not sleep.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.For everything in the world #– #the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions #– #is not from the Father, but is from the world.And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains for ever.
If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him #– #how does God’s love reside in him?
For you say, “I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,” and you don’t realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see.
One person pretends to be rich but has nothing; another pretends to be poor but has abundant wealth.
Therefore he said, ‘A nobleman travelled to a far country to receive for himself authority to be king and then to return.He called ten of his servants, gave them ten minas, and told them, “Engage in business until I come back.” ‘But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, “We don’t want this man to rule over us.”‘At his return, having received the authority to be king, he summoned those servants he had given the money to, so that he could find out how much they had made in business.The first came forward and said, “Master, your mina has earned ten more minas.”‘ “Well done, good servant! ” he told him. “Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, have authority over ten towns.” ‘The second came and said, “Master, your mina has made five minas.”‘So he said to him, “You will be over five towns.”There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.‘And another came and said, “Master, here is your mina. I have kept it safe in a clothbecause I was afraid of you since you’re a harsh man: you collect what you didn’t deposit and reap what you didn’t sow.” ‘He told him, “I will condemn you by what you have said, you evil servant! If you knew I was a harsh man, collecting what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow,why, then, didn’t you put my money in the bank? And when I returned, I would have collected it with interest.”So he said to those standing there, “Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.”‘But they said to him, “Master, he has ten minas.”‘ “I tell you, that to everyone who has, more will be given; and from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away.
Now the one sown among the thorns #– #this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behaviour, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry.They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living #– #and they slander you.They will give an account to the one who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.
Therefore, let us no longer judge one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister.
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
All of a person’s labour is for his stomach, , yet the appetite is never satisfied.What advantage then does the wise person have over the fool? What advantage is there for the poor person who knows how to conduct himself before others?Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. ,
and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin.
Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly; it takes the lives of those who receive it.
The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him.
‘And the King will answer them, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Do not be yoked together with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
Get wisdom – how much better it is than gold! And get understanding – it is preferable to silver.
And he told them, ‘You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God’s sight.
For what does it benefit someone if he gains the whole world, and yet loses or forfeits himself?