THE LOTTERY
"Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and
money is the answer to everything" (Eccl. 10:19). And truly in our
godless age nothing could be more idolized than the items thus mentioned
here. To eat, drink, and be merry is the dogma of our day. It is expected
of all that they will conform to this twisted standard and give
unflinching obedience to the god of the "good life". Of course everything
has its price and that includes the "good life". Every meal and every
drink has its fee and the greater the price the greater the satisfaction.
Therefore, if we are to maintain this high standard of living we must
have the finances available to relish in such pleasures. Thus, money
becomes the key to enjoyment; money becomes the central focus of our
ambitions; money becomes "the answer to everything".
And truly the things that can be bought with money are seemingly
endless. Amusements, recreations, immoralities, and countless other
diversions can all be bought for a price, and with enough money the price
can never be too high. But how can the simple man, the average Joe, come
into a state of affairs where he can truly enjoy these "great blessings".
Of course, if he attempted to gain these things by hard work he will be
at a major disadvantage because of the time it will take him to amass
enough wealth to indulge himself in these creature comforts (and besides
by then he will by far too old to enjoy them).
There is one hope though. One chance among millions. One blessed
dream that could change the course of his life. One great possibility
that could direct him through the doors of ease and comfort for the
remainder of his days. And it is so easy and economical that he can
afford to donate his time and earnings to it on a regular basis. He may,
if it so pleases our restless hero, spin the proverbial wheel of chance
monthly, weekly, and even daily. What is that blessed hope of salvation
that could lead to the success and consummation of our hero's quest if
only the most splendid and esteemed mistress Lady Luck will be merciful
to our ambitious champion? Why, of course, it is the Lottery.
SING IT, KENNY
Granted, the media has us convinced that the lottery is an
acceptable thing, a reasonable thing, even a necessary thing. Yet it is
my contention that the lottery is nothing more than a watered-down form
of gambling. It is a leech which slowly drains our God-given funds. It
emphasizes man's sinfulness in greed and discontent and should be shunned
by all that profess reliance upon the Lord and His providence.
Why would someone desire to play the lottery? What is their
motivation? The goal of the gambler is quite clear: To make as much money
with as little effort as possible. These two motivations: 1) To make much
money, and 2) to expend as little effort as possible in the attaining of
it, are contrary to all that the Christian should be in name and
attitude.
HOW DO YOU SPELL LOTTERY---G.R.E.E.D.
First, no matter how you rationalize it, the goal of playing the
lottery is to attain a mass of wealth. The goal is GREED. There is no
other way around it. Of course, some who play would say much to the
contrary. Their response to the charge of greed as their motivator would
be, "We just want to be secure", or "I'm would just like to take it easy
for awhile", or (blasphemy of blasphemies) "If I won, I sure could help
the church out". Dear friend, even the Pharisees who were lovers of money
themselves (Luke 16:14) had enough reverence when Judas threw the
betrayal money back at them not to use it for sacred things but to
instead buy a field with it. Do you think then that good can come from
evil? Do you honestly think that God needs your blood money to accomplish
his purposes? Or are you still as yet not convinced that gambling, even
in the watered-down version of the lottery, is a moral evil and offence
unto the Holy God?
The Bible says that "in the last days men will be lovers of self,
lovers of money." (2 Tim. 3:2). Worldly men are characterized by worldly
passions such as self-love and greed. Should these same qualities
characterize the Christian? Greed is displayed as one of the features of
a depraved mind (Rom 1:28-29) right in there with other sins such as
murder, deceitfulness, hating God, ect. "Oh, but it is such a little sin"
you say in comparison to these others. Then why, pray tell, does it have
such "worthy" bed-partners. Learn, O Christian, that all sin, great or
small, is a stench in the nostrils of a Holy and Majestic God and is so
putrid and horrifying to His senses that punishment for just one of your
so-called "small" sins would be an everlasting torment in hell away from
God and all that is good with weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth
time without end.
The Scriptures are clear: "Do not let immorality...or greed even be
named among you, as is proper among saints" (Eph. 5:3) and "Consider the
members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion,
evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry" (Col 3:5). Here again,
we see that Greed has such "worthy" partners; evil desires, immorality
and the like. Greed is not even to be heard of among Christians and is
idolatry (read the last part of Col 3:5 again if you still remain
unconvinced).
"But I'm not greedy" you cry, "I just want a few good things, some
security, some time to myself, ect.". Your wimperings will get you
nowhere. What is greed but a longing for riches and what does the Bible
say about that: "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil,
and some BY LONGING FOR IT have wandered away from the faith" (1 Tim
6:10). Have you been wandering away from the providence of God my friend
by longing for much riches through the lottery? If so, the next verse has
a vital message you need to hear, understand and obey: "But FLEE from
these things, you man of God" (1 Tim. 6:11). O Man of God who trusts in
Lady Luck to provide for him, don't try to reason out of it or
rationalize this message away. Obey the Scriptures, repent of your sin.
In a word; Flee!
LABOR AND CONTENTMENT
Or are you not content with the lot that God has graciously given
you? Is there any good thing that you have from God that you did not
receive? Do you think you deserve more? Are you of such noble character
and moral purity that you deserve ample compensation for all your lusts
and desires at your bidding? And would you now attempt to stick your hand
in the forbidden cookie jar to gain more than God has given? O foolish
and pitiful man. It is God that gives you the strength to work. It is God
that provides you with the skills and knowledge to labor. It is God who
provides your every need by His great providence. And it is God who has
shown us the way in which He would have us to increase monetarily, and
that is by honest, hard labor that benefits others. The Thessalonians
were told to "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life... and work with
your hands" (1 Thes. 4:11) and that "if anyone will not work neither let
him eat" (2 Thes. 3:10). Though God at one time sustained His people by a
constant supply of manna, He now sustains His people chiefly by granting
them the strength and abilities to labor for the common good and by that
labor to increase financially.
Listen well to this verse and take it to heart: "He who tills the
land will have plenty of food, but he who follows empty pursuits will
have poverty in plenty...he who makes haste to be rich will not go
unpunished" (Prov. 28:19-20). And what more is the lottery but then an
"empty and vain pursuit" in an attempt to "make haste to be rich". This
verse alone should be enough to stop any real Christian who bows to the
authority of Scripture to see the folly in playing the Lottery and repent
now of his sin before he encounters God's discipline: "he who makes hast
to be rich will not go unpunished".
What then should we do? We should be "free from the love of money,
being content with what we have" (Heb. 13:5). It is lack of that
contentment that results in stressful and sinful strivings against God's
providence. Simply be content, you are getting far less than what your
sins deserve! Have the attitude of Agur in the Proverbs who cried out to
God "give me neither poverty nor riches...lest I be full and deny Thee,
and say, "Who is the Lord?" or lest I be in want and steal, and profane
the name of my God" (Prov. 30:8-9). Desire a good name for "a good name
is to be more desired than great riches" (Prov. 22:1). If great riches
are your desire and you must gamble to gain them then you become nothing
more than a gambler. Your good name of saint is gone and your new names
of risk-taker, chance-monger, and gambler are fully deserved.
Jesus said, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of
greed" (Luk 12:15). I am convinced that one of the manifestations of
greed in its most heinous form (for it seems so innocent) is that idea
promoted and performed by the Lottery.
CONCLUSION
Phil 4:19 reads, "but my God shall supply all your need according to
His riches in glory by Christ Jesus". Do we really believe this? Does
this show in our actions? Does God provide through our Lord Jesus Christ
or through our Lord Lady Luck? Keep in mind that Jesus Himself said that
it is impossible to serve God and mammon. Who do you serve? Who do you
trust to supply your need? Did not at one time holy men of old pray "Give
us this day our daily bread" in humble reliance upon the Lord. You may
keep your harlot Lady Luck. I will neither receive from her hand nor beg
at her feet for her cup full of unbelief. My trust and rest is in the
Sovereign Lord and His providence in supplying every good thing to His
own. I can sing with David that my portion and cup truly overflow in
God's graciousness. You may feast with your Lady and share her cup of
abominations if you like, but please don't say you trust in God and His
providence, your actions betray you and likewise condemn you.
