GAMBLING AND THE BIBLE
Lately, gambling has become a hot political issue. In Malaysia, gambling for non-Muslim is a right provided under the federal law. According to Act 3 : 23, all of us have sinned. None of us is righteous. Having said that, let us not indulge with moral and gambling.
The principal behind gambling is the mathematical theory known as chances and probability. There are many incident in the Bible where the theory of chances and probability was applied. The Bible commonly refers to this theory as “casting of lot”. We can note that from the time of Moses, property or inheritance for the house of Israel was divided by casting of lots.
Numbers 26:52-56
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying … the land shall be divided by lot.
Joshua 14:2
By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
Joshua 18:6
Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.
Joshua 19:51
These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD.
Joshua 21:8
And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
1 Chronicles 26:13-14
And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate. And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
Nehemiah 10:34
And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God.
Acts 1:23-26
And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen…. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Gambling is defined by Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary as “to play or game for money or other stake; to hazard; wager.” Connected with gambling is the strong element of uncertainty, the large chance of losing. It has been popularly defined as “getting something for nothing without rendering service or exchange of goods, and is essentially stealing and a form of robbery”. It involves taking a risk in order to obtain something for nothing and often means losing what one has and obtaining nothing.
If that is the definition of gambling, investing in share market and buying insurance is also a form of gambling. There is strong element of uncertainty. The dividend that you earn from a share or insurance investment is also “getting something for nothing” without rendering service or exchange of goods and is essentially stealing and a form of robbery. A wealthy person can afford to pay a very high premium. When he or she claim the “insured sum” of $1,000,000.00 for an unfortunate event, they are actually “robbing” the premium of another poor person who may be paying a small premium for “insured sum” of $10,000.00
Gambling is often perceived as “evil” because the chances and probability of you winning is very little. The only way to increase the chances and probability of winning is by buying more lottery tickets. The situation in “investing” in stock market and insurance is also the same. The more stock or policy you buy, the better is your return.
In insurance, the chances and probability of a insured person claiming due to accident, medical or death is marginally very small compared to the premium collected by the company. So, the insurance company plays the gambling game for you and pay your claims, bonuses, dividend and so on. Either you buy lottery or “invest” your hard earn money in stock market or insurance policies, there is a risk factor. There is strong element of uncertainty.
Matthew 6:26
26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Matthew 6:32-34
32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own
If you honestly belief in the verses above, you need not invest in insurance policies and stock markets to take care of your future. You don’t have to bet in the next lottery draw to get rich quick.
The message here is not asking you to stop investing in stock market or insurance policies. Investing in stock market, insurance policies or betting in the lottery is a personal preference. All the three get rich quick schemes are govern by the same mathematical principal.
