Gambling for God
Is there a place for “Casting Lots” in a Christian Business?
Picture this for a moment:
You are sitting at your Church’s AGM and your pastor pulls out a green felt board and a dice and says “We have 3 nominations for eldership, but we only need one elder, so let’s see who gets the highest number!”
The point of this article is not to explain why gambling as we know it today, tends to be frowned upon in Christian circles (you can click the link at the bottom of this page if you want to see that). The purpose of this article is to bring up the topic of “casting lots” for decision-making.
Having faith in God’s ability to direct the outcome of a decision is not really a “gamble” is it?
We see in both the old and new testament that the believers would “cast lots” when they made a number of decisions (refer examples listed at the bottom of this page). Casting lots was used in biblical times for various purposes, such as decision-making, division of land, assigning duties, and determining sacrificial rituals.
I’m sure that in Bible times they would have prayed for God to use the lot casting to supernaturally direct the direction of the dice or lots to His will. Did they have more faith than us? Are we so much more knowledgable and wise ourselves now. Are we able to make our own decisions now?
Perhaps there are still Churches in Australia that cast lots to make decisions? What about Christian businesses?
How do you make big decisions like, who to hire, what deal to pursue, which contractor to go with, what CRM to use, which business to buy or sell… ?
It is much more common (and accepted!) for Christians to today, to pray and seek God’s wisdom, the council of other believers and to wait for a sense of peace from the Holy Spirit when making big decisions. Some of us will “lay a fleece” in order to hear God’s will (refer story of Gideon in Judges 6). Sometimes laying a fleece can be a cop-out or an excuse for disobedience and inaction. Sometimes believers set ridiculous fleeces because they REALLY do not want to do God’s will (a topic for another article).
As a Christian involved in business or leadership, have you ever “cast a lot” or thrown a dice in order to make a decision?
Do you think that “lot casting” is something that Christians in Church and business should reconsider doing?
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Some Examples of Biblical “Lot Casting”
1. Choosing Judas’ Replacement
In Acts 1:26, after Judas Iscariot’s betrayal and subsequent death, the remaining eleven apostles cast lots to determine who would replace him among the twelve apostles.
2. Dividing the Promised Land
In Joshua 18:6-10, lots were cast to divide the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel, following God’s instructions to distribute the territory fairly among the people.
3. Assigning Duties in the Temple
In 1 Chronicles 25:8-9, lots were cast to assign the duties of the temple musicians during the reign of King David, ensuring a fair and impartial distribution of responsibilities among the Levites.
4. Sacrificing Goats
In Leviticus 16:8-10, lots were cast to determine which of two goats would be sacrificed as a sin offering on the Day of Atonement, illustrating the symbolic transfer of the people’s sins onto the chosen animal.
5. Choosing the Goat for Azazel
In Leviticus 16:8-10, lots were cast to choose one goat to be sacrificed to the Lord and the other, the scapegoat, to be sent into the wilderness, symbolising the removal of the sins of the people.
6. Choosing Saul as King
In 1 Samuel 10:20-21, lots were cast to choose Saul as the first king of Israel. The process of casting lots confirmed God’s choice of Saul, demonstrating divine guidance in the selection of a leader for the nation.
7. Distributing Temple Duties
In 1 Chronicles 24:5, lots were cast to allocate the priestly duties among the descendants of Aaron. This method ensured fairness and impartiality in assigning responsibilities within the priestly order.
8. Apportioning the City of David
In Nehemiah 11:1, lots were cast to determine which inhabitants of Jerusalem would live in the restored city of David. This process helped organize the population distribution and resettlement of the city.
9. Determining the Order of Priestly Service
In Luke 1:8-9, it is mentioned that the father of John the Baptist, Zechariah, was chosen by lot to enter the temple and burn incense while the people prayed outside. This method was used to decide the order of priestly duties.
Is it okay for Christians to Gamble? What does the Bible say about gambling?
The Bible does not explicitly mention “gambling” as we know it today, but it does provide principles and guidance that can be applied to the concept of gambling:
1. Stewardship: The Bible teaches about the importance of being good stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us. Gambling, particularly when it leads to addiction or financial irresponsibility, can be seen as contrary to the principle of responsible stewardship.
2. Love of Money: 1 Timothy 6:10 states, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” Gambling can sometimes be driven by a love of money or a desire for quick and easy gain, which can lead to greed and other negative consequences.
3. Trusting in God: Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. Relying on gambling as a source of income or solution to financial problems may indicate a lack of trust in God’s provision and wisdom.
4. Temptation and Addiction: The Bible warns against being controlled by anything that enslaves us. Gambling addiction can lead to harmful consequences for individuals and their families, affecting relationships, finances, and overall well-being.
5. Helping Others: The Bible calls us to care for others and help those in need. Gambling often preys on vulnerable individuals and can contribute to social issues such as poverty and addiction, which go against the principles of compassion and justice.
While the Bible may not explicitly forbid gambling, it provides principles that encourage wise decision-making, responsible stewardship, and care for others. It is important for individuals to consider these principles and seek guidance from God in making decisions regarding gambling activities.