For a long time now i have been unemployed, although i have access to the internet and i have a lot of guys around me who makes money regularly from sports betting. Infact one of them got married and moved into an apartment he rented with about #750,000, has a building project that is ongoing and sustains himself and his family from it. I have tried it once having learnt from seeing them play but i have been thinking seriously about it lately, even though i am convinced it is not a sin, as i have tried searching for relevant scriptures that talks about it, i have been unable to come about any and i feel it is as much a business as Forex Trading.

I will really welcome anyone who has a biblical opinion about this with references to advise.

I am aware that certain people will make fun out of this or probably insult me, this is NL... I will greatly appreciate candid opinions that can be backed by the bible.

Hi brother Godspikin (nice handle )

If you search there have been several threads on the issue of betting or gambling (whether sports, casinos, lottery etc etc). See the link/quote below. That is my belief on the matter.

http://www.gotquestions.org/gambling-sin.html

"Is gambling a sin? What does the Bible say about gambling?"

Answer: The Bible does not specifically condemn gambling, betting, or the lottery. The Bible does warn us, however, to stay away from the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10; Hebrews 13:5). Scripture also encourages us to stay away from attempts to “get rich quick” (Proverbs 13:11; 23:5; Ecclesiastes 5:10). Gambling most definitely is focused on the love of money and undeniably tempts people with the promise of quick and easy riches.

What is wrong with gambling? Gambling is a difficult issue because if it is done in moderation and only on occasion, it is a waste of money, but it is not necessarily evil. People waste money on all sorts of activities. Gambling is no more or less of a waste of money than seeing a movie (in many cases), eating an unnecessarily expensive meal, or purchasing a worthless item. At the same time, the fact that money is wasted on other things does not justify gambling. Money should not be wasted. Excess money should be saved for future needs or given to the Lord's work, not gambled away.

While the Bible does not explicitly mention gambling, it does mention events of “luck” or “chance.” As an example, casting lots is used in Leviticus to choose between the sacrificial goat and the scapegoat. Joshua cast lots to determine the allotment of land to the various tribes. Nehemiah cast lots to determine who would live inside the walls of Jerusalem. The apostles cast lots to determine the replacement for Judas. Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast in the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”

What would the Bible say about casinos and lotteries? Casinos use all sorts of marketing schemes to entice gamblers to risk as much money as possible. They often offer inexpensive or even free alcohol, which encourages drunkenness, and thereby a decreased ability to make wise decisions. Everything in a casino is perfectly rigged for taking money in large sums and giving nothing in return, except for fleeting and empty pleasures. Lotteries attempt to portray themselves as a way to fund education and/or social programs. However, studies show that lottery participants are usually those who can least afford to be spending money on lottery tickets. The allure of “getting rich quick” is too great a temptation to resist for those who are desperate. The chances of winning are infinitesimal, which results in many peoples’ lives being ruined.

Can lotto/lottery proceeds please God? Many people claim to be playing the lottery or gambling so that they can give the money to the church or to some other good cause. While this may be a good motive, reality is that few use gambling winnings for godly purposes. Studies show that the vast majority of lottery winners are in an even worse financial situation a few years after winning a jackpot than they were before. Few, if any, truly give the money to a good cause. Further, God does not need our money to fund His mission in the world. Proverbs 13:11 says, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” God is sovereign and will provide for the needs of the church through honest means. Would God be honored by receiving donated drug money or money stolen in a bank robbery? Of course not. Neither does God need or want money that was “stolen” from the poor in the temptation for riches.

First Timothy 6:10 tells us, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Hebrews 13:5 declares, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Matthew 6:24 proclaims, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

You also mentioned a friend who has gotten rich from betting - this seems to be the allure for you and we know the bible teaches us not to covet what others have. All in all, may God guide you into all truth. Amen.

Cheers.

Proverbs 1:10.
j you're speaking out again, that's nice.

Thanx all... I av really learnt something.

Image123: Proverbs 1:10.
j you're speaking out again, that's nice.

I have a bit more time these days...posting frequency usually fluctuates. It must be rainy season

Godspikin: Thanx all... I av really learnt something.

you welcome friend.

JeSoul: I have a bit more time these days...posting frequency usually fluctuates. It must be rainy season

i was hinting at the unambiguous kind of.

Image123:
i was hinting at the unambiguous kind of.

^snr bro, jnr sister doesn't get it...

JeSoul: ^snr bro, jnr sister doesn't get it...

you didn't go politically correct on the thread, forget my wahala, i like wahala too much.

Image123:
you didn't go politically correct on the thread, forget my wahala, i like wahala too much.

On the highlight....that's why I like to dey open my snr brother yansh for public...... . So that him go caution him wahala making.... . Abeg no take am too hard o, just joking. How body? Are you getting ready to come minister for my church for Yankee? But no bring wahala sha o,

Goshen360:

On the highlight....that's why I like to dey open my snr brother yansh for public...... . So that him go caution him wahala making.... . Abeg no take am too hard o, just joking. How body? Are you getting ready to come minister for my church for Yankee? But no bring wahala sha o,

i said to forget my wahala, you no read that part? minister as werin na, i no be pastor oh! and you must give all the tithes you don dogde so the meeting won't be tight lolololol.

Image123:
i said to forget my wahala, you no read that part? minister as werin na, i no be pastor oh! and you must give all the tithes you don dogde so the meeting won't be tight lolololol.

Bros, no be only pastor dem dey invite na. Na this make I remember when I was at Fedpoffa and was the Youth President of RCCG, Winner's Parish and I invited a brother from my Lagos church to come minister in Youth programme. Na so our pastor dey vex..... .

If you come preach tithe here, na so my members go dey look you. Them go put you for next available flight back to where I invited you from...... . Abeg no come start that wahala here. You say make we leaf/forget your wahala but you no dey stop wahala making..... . Anyway, I've learnt some swagga from you here on this forum!....

swagger ke? I yam a born againi oh, na Bible bi my own oh, no swaggering, love not the world na my pledge oh, I don crucify sotey i no fit walk sef, not to mention teach you swagger. no koba kobalise me oh. again, forget my wahala jare.

Image123: swagger ke? I yam a born againi oh, na Bible bi my own oh, no swaggering, love not the world na my pledge oh, I don crucify sotey i no fit walk sef, not to mention teach you swagger. no koba kobalise me oh. again, forget my wahala jare.

Okay Bishop! I hear you. I no dey follow the world too as I'm also crucified with Christ. That one na just effysi (shakara) things. I forgo your wahala thing in Jesus' name.

Godspikin: For a long time now i have been unemployed, although i have access to the internet and i have a lot of guys around me who makes money regularly from sports betting. Infact one of them got married and moved into an apartment he rented with about #750,000, has a building project that is ongoing and sustains himself and his family from it. I have tried it once having learnt from seeing them play but i have been thinking seriously about it lately, even though i am convinced it is not a sin, as i have tried searching for relevant scriptures that talks about it, i have been unable to come about any and i feel it is as much a business as Forex Trading.

I will really welcome anyone who has a biblical opinion about this with references to advise.

I am aware that certain people will make fun out of this or probably insult me, this is NL... I will greatly appreciate candid opinions that can be backed by the bible.

The Bible contains no specific command to avoid gambling. However, the Bible does contain timeless principles for living a life pleasing to God and is filled with wisdom to deal with every situation, including gambling.

While betting sites and lottries promise thrills and excitement, obviously people gamble to try to win money. Scripture gives very specific instructions about what our attitude should be toward money:

Ecclesiastes 5:10, NIV Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.

Luke 16:13, NIV "No servant can serve two masters. [Jesus said.] Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

1 Timothy 6:10, NIV For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Gambling is a way to bypass work, but the Bible counsels us to persevere and work hard:

Proverbs 10:4, NIV Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.

One of the key principles in the Bible is that people should be wise stewards of everything God gives them, including their time, talent and treasure. Gamblers may believe they earn their money with their own labor and may spend it as they please, yet God gives people the talent and health to carry out their jobs, and their very life is a gift from him as well. Wise stewardship of extra money calls believers to invest it in the Lord’s work or to save it for an emergency, rather than lose it in games in which the odds are stacked against the player.

Gamblers covet more money, but they may also covet the things money can buy, such as cars, boats, houses, expensive jewelry and clothing. The Bible forbids a covetous attitude in the Tenth Commandment:

Exodus 20:17, NIV "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Gambling also has the potential to turn into an addiction, like drugs or alcohol. This addiction can destroy the stability of the family, lead to job loss, and cause a person to lose control of their life:

2 Peter 2:19...for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

Finally...the Bible does not explicitly say, "Thou shalt not gamble." like I stated earlier, but by gaining a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures we have a trustworthy guide for determining what pleases and displeases God.

@OP, betting is not a sin if it does not involve greed or fast way of making money. Everyone on wall street place bets on stock in one way or the other and that is their means of livelihood. I am in total agreement with what Sis. Jesoul mentioned below:

JeSoul: Hi brother Godspikin (nice handle )
You also mentioned a friend who has gotten rich from betting - this seems to be the allure for you and we know the bible teaches us not to covet what others have. All in all, may God guide you into all truth. Amen..

@ those who responded.
What the heck are you guys talking about by saying it is a sin? To begin, l will like you to define gambling. According to one of the google definitions, gamble means
An act of gambling; an enterprise undertaken or attempted with a risk of loss and a chance of profit or success. as we will all agree, any business is an enterprise hence imperatively, we are saying every businessman is a gambler. The mere fact that a man puts his money into something with the hope of getting interest but with the risk of suffering losses is a gamble already. Every stock trader on the stock exchange ( network, Dow jones, ftse, shanghai, etc) are all gamblers in one way or the other. The fact that you applied for a US DV lottery makes you a gambler. The fact that you applied for a job with the hope of getting employed but with the possibility of not getting employed is a gamble in itself. The disciples of Jesus Christ were all gamblers because in choosing the 12 disciple, they cast lots. Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:26 NIV) . If taken from the concept some people are proposing here, it means every risk taker is a sinner since they are taking a gamble one way or the other. When you go into business, you are more or less placing a bet that the business will yield interest.
The fact remains as pointed out by most of us. We should know where to draw the line and do things in moderation. Money in itself is not bad but the love of money is bad.Even food can be a sin when eaten excessively hence gluttony is a sin.
I am open to correction so please indulge me.

Was actually worried about this question: 'whether football betting is a sin' until i searched nairaland to see any topic concerning it..

I so so love the replies so so much.

Am glad i found this.

Mayowura: Was actually worried about this question: 'whether football betting is a sin' until i searched nairaland to see any topic concerning it..

I so so love the replies so so much.

Am glad i found this.

So what do you think after reading responses.

Godspikin:

So what do you think after reading responses.

Goodmorning, although i've started sport betting before consulting this thread,. I just wanted to know if am on right standing,...
I see it as no sin in as much as it doesn't interfere with my spiritual life.

What about you? In or ...?

Well I agree with cleric, although I'm a freethinker, I see gambling as something that should be done in moderation, like every other thing we do moderation is the key to leaving a fulfilling life, going by biblical standards anything done in excess is considered sin, be it over eating or binge drinking, so I don't see gambling as something bad, as long as u don't overdo it, but like jesoul mentioned, monies gotten from quick rich schemes don't stay for long, so u had better start thinking of more worthwhile ways to make money,

Its painful that I saw this now. But let me answer your question. Gambling might not be a sin yesterday but can be a sin today. It depends on the way God is taking you and what he has for you. The reason why u feel a certain unrest in your spirit is that God is saying it is time to stop, I have something else in store for you. You see Christianity is nothing without the holyspirit, and d holyspirit is that deep voice that leads you.

He said I am the lord your God. The holyone of Israel. Who teacheth thy hand to profit. Who leads u in the way that thou should go. So search ur spirit and if your heart is not at peace with it. Then it is time to let it go, even when u don't have an alternative. It means God has prepared something else for you.

engrbrain:
Its painful that I saw this now. But let me answer your question. Gambling might not be a sin yesterday but can be a sin today. It depends on the way God is taking you and what he has for you. The reason why u feel a certain unrest in your spirit is that God is saying it is time to stop, I have something else in store for you. You see Christianity is nothing without the holyspirit, and d holyspirit is that deep voice that leads you.

He said I am the lord your God. The holyone of Israel. Who teacheth thy hand to profit. Who leads u in the way that thou should go. So search ur spirit and if your heart is not at peace with it. Then it is time to let it go, even when u don't have an alternative. It means God has prepared something else for you.

I think this settles it...