Lottery Fever: 7 reasons not to play.

[ALAYMAN]

I heard it said that the chances of winning this Power Ball would be like being struck by lightining.....




while being eaten by a shark.

Americans now spend more than $70 billion dollars annually on lotteries. That?s more than the combined spending on books, video games, and movie and sporting-event tickets. Lotteries are legal in 43 states.

?That?s more than $230 for every man, woman, and child in those states ? or $300 for each adult,? reports The Atlantic.

I agree with the report that this is a great shame on our nation. From time to time, the Powerball or Mega Millions lotteries rise to unusually high numbers and get fresh attention in the news.

Here are seven reasons, among others, I have often rehearsed to make the case that you should not gamble with your money in this way.

1. It is spiritually suicidal.(1 Timothy 6:9?10).

2. It is a kind of embezzlement.  (Matthew 25:16?17).  (1 Corinthians 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; Ephesians 4:28).

3. It?s a fool?s errand.
4. The system is built on the necessity of most people losing.

5. It preys on the poor.

The lottery supports and encourages ?yet another corrosive addiction that preys upon the greed and hopeless dreams of those trapped in poverty. . . . The Consumerist suggested that poor people in the U.S. ? those earning $13,000 or less ? spend an astounding 9 percent of their income on lottery tickets. . . making this ?harmless? game a ?deeply regressive tax?? (ibid).

6. There is a better alternative. (Invest your lotto money)
If the $500 a year that on average all American households throw away on the lottery were invested in an index fund each year for 20 years, each family would have $24,000. Not maybe. Really. And the taxes on these earnings would not only support government services, but would be built on sound and sustainable habits of economic life.

7. For the sake of quick money, government is undermining the virtue without which it cannot survive.


So, if you win, don?t give from your lottery winnings to our ministry. Christ does not build his church on the backs of the poor. Pray that Christ?s people will be so satisfied in him that they will be freed from the greed that makes us crave to get rich.

--John Piper

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

I heard it said that the chances of winning this Power Ball would be like being struck by lightining.....




while being eaten by a shark.

Americans now spend more than $70 billion dollars annually on lotteries. That?s more than the combined spending on books, video games, and movie and sporting-event tickets. Lotteries are legal in 43 states.

?That?s more than $230 for every man, woman, and child in those states ? or $300 for each adult,? reports The Atlantic.

I agree with the report that this is a great shame on our nation. From time to time, the Powerball or Mega Millions lotteries rise to unusually high numbers and get fresh attention in the news.

Here are seven reasons, among others, I have often rehearsed to make the case that you should not gamble with your money in this way.

1. It is spiritually suicidal.(1 Timothy 6:9?10).

2. It is a kind of embezzlement.  (Matthew 25:16?17).  (1 Corinthians 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; Ephesians 4:28).

3. It?s a fool?s errand.
4. The system is built on the necessity of most people losing.

5. It preys on the poor.

The lottery supports and encourages ?yet another corrosive addiction that preys upon the greed and hopeless dreams of those trapped in poverty. . . . The Consumerist suggested that poor people in the U.S. ? those earning $13,000 or less ? spend an astounding 9 percent of their income on lottery tickets. . . making this ?harmless? game a ?deeply regressive tax?? (ibid).

6. There is a better alternative. (Invest your lotto money)
If the $500 a year that on average all American households throw away on the lottery were invested in an index fund each year for 20 years, each family would have $24,000. Not maybe. Really. And the taxes on these earnings would not only support government services, but would be built on sound and sustainable habits of economic life.

7. For the sake of quick money, government is undermining the virtue without which it cannot survive.


So, if you win, don?t give from your lottery winnings to our ministry. Christ does not build his church on the backs of the poor. Pray that Christ?s people will be so satisfied in him that they will be freed from the greed that makes us crave to get rich.

--John Piper

The only question I have is "will you give a tithe if you win"? 

 

[Recovering IFB]

I heard it said that the chances of winning this Power Ball would be like being struck by lightining.....




while being eaten by a shark.

Americans now spend more than $70 billion dollars annually on lotteries. That?s more than the combined spending on books, video games, and movie and sporting-event tickets. Lotteries are legal in 43 states.

?That?s more than $230 for every man, woman, and child in those states ? or $300 for each adult,? reports The Atlantic.

I agree with the report that this is a great shame on our nation. From time to time, the Powerball or Mega Millions lotteries rise to unusually high numbers and get fresh attention in the news.

Here are seven reasons, among others, I have often rehearsed to make the case that you should not gamble with your money in this way.

1. It is spiritually suicidal.(1 Timothy 6:9?10).

2. It is a kind of embezzlement.  (Matthew 25:16?17).  (1 Corinthians 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; Ephesians 4:28).

3. It?s a fool?s errand.
4. The system is built on the necessity of most people losing.

5. It preys on the poor.

The lottery supports and encourages ?yet another corrosive addiction that preys upon the greed and hopeless dreams of those trapped in poverty. . . . The Consumerist suggested that poor people in the U.S. ? those earning $13,000 or less ? spend an astounding 9 percent of their income on lottery tickets. . . making this ?harmless? game a ?deeply regressive tax?? (ibid).

6. There is a better alternative. (Invest your lotto money)
If the $500 a year that on average all American households throw away on the lottery were invested in an index fund each year for 20 years, each family would have $24,000. Not maybe. Really. And the taxes on these earnings would not only support government services, but would be built on sound and sustainable habits of economic life.

7. For the sake of quick money, government is undermining the virtue without which it cannot survive.


So, if you win, don?t give from your lottery winnings to our ministry. Christ does not build his church on the backs of the poor. Pray that Christ?s people will be so satisfied in him that they will be freed from the greed that makes us crave to get rich.

--John Piper

The only question I have is "will you give a tithe if you win"? 

It would be interesting to see what pastor would turn down that tithe check if a believer wins that.

 

[Bruh]

I'm buy 2 or 3 tickets today.

Will I win? Probably not, but hey I'll buy 2 or 3 tickets you never know.

Am I sinning? No I don't think so....

 

[Tim]

What exactly defines "people who long to be rich" as presented in 1 Timothy 6:9

 

[Bruh]

What exactly defines "people who long to be rich" as presented in 1 Timothy 6:9

I don't "long to be rich".

 

[Tim]

What exactly defines "people who long to be rich" as presented in 1 Timothy 6:9

I don't "long to be rich".

I don't desire power and influence that money often brings. Is that is the definition of rich.

But, I do believe more money in my bank account could help me provide better for my family. Actually - I would like more money in my  bank account to provide better for my family, give to others, have a safety net.

 

[subllibrm]

I heard it said that the chances of winning this Power Ball would be like being struck by lightining.....




while being eaten by a shark.

Americans now spend more than $70 billion dollars annually on lotteries. That?s more than the combined spending on books, video games, and movie and sporting-event tickets. Lotteries are legal in 43 states.

?That?s more than $230 for every man, woman, and child in those states ? or $300 for each adult,? reports The Atlantic.

I agree with the report that this is a great shame on our nation. From time to time, the Powerball or Mega Millions lotteries rise to unusually high numbers and get fresh attention in the news.

Here are seven reasons, among others, I have often rehearsed to make the case that you should not gamble with your money in this way.

1. It is spiritually suicidal.(1 Timothy 6:9?10).

2. It is a kind of embezzlement.  (Matthew 25:16?17).  (1 Corinthians 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; Ephesians 4:28).

3. It?s a fool?s errand.
4. The system is built on the necessity of most people losing.

5. It preys on the poor.

The lottery supports and encourages ?yet another corrosive addiction that preys upon the greed and hopeless dreams of those trapped in poverty. . . . The Consumerist suggested that poor people in the U.S. ? those earning $13,000 or less ? spend an astounding 9 percent of their income on lottery tickets. . . making this ?harmless? game a ?deeply regressive tax?? (ibid).

6. There is a better alternative. (Invest your lotto money)
If the $500 a year that on average all American households throw away on the lottery were invested in an index fund each year for 20 years, each family would have $24,000. Not maybe. Really. And the taxes on these earnings would not only support government services, but would be built on sound and sustainable habits of economic life.

7. For the sake of quick money, government is undermining the virtue without which it cannot survive.


So, if you win, don?t give from your lottery winnings to our ministry. Christ does not build his church on the backs of the poor. Pray that Christ?s people will be so satisfied in him that they will be freed from the greed that makes us crave to get rich.

--John Piper

The only question I have is "will you give a tithe if you win"? 

Would you forgive my sin for 10%?

 

[subllibrm]

What exactly defines "people who long to be rich" as presented in 1 Timothy 6:9

I don't "long to be rich".

I don't desire power and influence that money often brings. Is that is the definition of rich.

But, I do believe more money in my bank account could help me provide better for my family. Actually - I would like more money in my  bank account to provide better for my family, give to others, have a safety net.

I already have one and money isn't involved.

 

[Jubal Sackett]

I bought five chances. I can do a lot of good with that money. St. Jude's, Shriner's  Hospitals, Wounded Warrior Project.

Jubal Sackett

 

[ALAYMAN]

I bought five chances. I can do a lot of good with that money. St. Jude's, Shriner's  Hospitals, Wounded Warrior Project.

Jubal Sackett

Best of luck.





But I don't like your odds.