Should a Christian gamble or play the lotteries?
No. For every winner, there are always losers. In the case of lotteries there are sometimes hundreds of thousands or millions of losers for every few winners. The winner gets his gain by hurting others, even though the loser has chosen to put himself at risk.
God's Word teaches that we are to love others more than ourselves. When we do things that hurt others, we violate that principle. It is sin. It is naive to think that no one is hurt by gambling. It would be enlightening to talk to professional counselors who have dealt with people who have gambling addictions. Ask about the wives, husbands, and children of gamblers. These innocent people are seriously affected. We are called to come out of the world not to partake in worldly foolishness.
We Should Reflect God's Glory:
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18).
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).
A born-again believer is a new creation in Christ, which means we don't take part in the trappings of the world:
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Seek/Set Your Affection on Things God:
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God"(Colossians 3:1-3).
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).
Righteousness:
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Mathew 5:16).
"And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless" (Luke 1:6).
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:4-8).
Allow the Holy Spirit to transform your mind:
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and prefect will of God (Romans 12: 1-2).
