23 Bible Verses about the Lottery (With Commentary)

The allure of the lottery often captivates our imagination, promising instant wealth and prosperity. But what does the Bible say about this pursuit? Explore thought-provoking verses about the lottery, unearthing timeless wisdom on contentment, stewardship, and the true riches that can be found in a life rooted in faith and gratitude.

Bible Verses about Lottery

Proverbs 13:11

“Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.”

The proverbial wisdom emphasizes the importance of gradual accumulation of wealth rather than sudden gain. The lottery, by nature, encourages the latter – a windfall that is often associated with reckless spending and eventual financial ruin. It’s a lesson about sustainability, hard work, and prudent management of resources.

Proverbs 28:22

“A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth and does not know that want will come upon him.”

In the rush to accumulate wealth quickly, like with a lottery, one might overlook the potential drawbacks. This verse speaks about the danger of greedy pursuits, where the blinkered vision for immediate riches often leads to unforeseen consequences.

Ecclesiastes 5:10

“Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.”

This verse communicates the perils of covetousness, especially related to money. The lottery plays into this human weakness, with the dream of great wealth often leading to dissatisfaction and a constant longing for more, breeding a sense of discontentment.

1 Timothy 6:10

“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.”

The verse reminds us of the potential moral pitfalls associated with an excessive love for money. The pursuit of lottery winnings can often lead individuals astray, causing them to compromise their values and integrity.

Hebrews 13:5

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”

This verse is a call to find contentment in what one has and trust in God’s providence. This opposes the lottery’s promotion of dissatisfaction with present circumstances and the enticing allure of a more comfortable life.

Luke 12:15

“And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’”

Here, Jesus warns against covetousness and the overemphasis on material wealth. This admonition is directly opposed to the spirit of the lottery, which primarily revolves around the acquisition of worldly possessions.

Matthew 6:24

“No one can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.”

This verse speaks to the divisive nature of divided loyalties. The pursuit of lottery wealth could potentially draw attention and devotion away from one’s spiritual pursuits, creating a conflict of interests.

James 4:3

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

James provides a cautionary reminder about the importance of motive. The allure of the lottery often arises from self-serving motives and the desire for personal pleasures, which contrasts with the biblical call for selflessness and generosity.

Proverbs 23:4-5

“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.”

These verses warn about the fleeting nature of wealth and the folly of exhausting oneself for monetary gain. The lottery, which can bring sudden riches, aligns with the kind of wealth these verses caution against.

1 Timothy 6:9

“Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”

The warning here is about the temptation and the potential harm that the desire to get rich can cause. The lottery can be seen as a trap that lures people with the promise of quick wealth, often leading to negative outcomes.

Proverbs 15:27

“Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.”

This proverb speaks against greed and the desire for unjust gain. It implies that such greed can lead to household strife and personal ruin, a relevant caution for those tempted by the quick gain of a lottery.

Proverbs 10:22

“The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.”

Here, the emphasis is on the blessings from God as the true source of wealth. The lottery, on the other hand, could be viewed as seeking wealth outside of God’s blessings, and such wealth may bring sorrow.

Luke 16:13

“No servant 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.”

This verse mirrors Matthew 6:24, once again highlighting the impossibility of serving God and money simultaneously. The pursuit of lottery wealth may challenge an individual’s devotion to God.

Proverbs 22:1

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.”

The proverb emphasizes the value of a good reputation and divine favor over monetary wealth. It suggests that the pursuit of lottery riches could potentially jeopardize one’s moral standing and favor with God.

Proverbs 21:5

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”

This verse underlines the importance of diligence and contrasts it with hastiness. The lottery, which promises immediate wealth, aligns with the hasty approach the verse warns against.

Proverbs 11:28

“Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.”

This verse warns against placing trust in material wealth, like the wealth promised by a lottery, and instead encourages righteousness, suggesting a moral and spiritual flourishing instead of a financial one.

Matthew 19:24

“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

The verse underscores the difficulties that wealth can pose for spiritual growth and entering the kingdom of God. This caution is relevant to those who pursue wealth through the lottery, which may hamper their spiritual journey.

Ecclesiastes 5:13

“There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt.”

The verse indicates that accumulated wealth can bring harm to its possessor, a notion that contradicts the lure of the lottery. This verse encourages a perspective that values spiritual and personal well-being over material wealth.

Ecclesiastes 7:12

“For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.”

This verse emphasizes the value of wisdom and knowledge over money, pointing out that wisdom has life-preserving power. The pursuit of lottery winnings could distract from this quest for wisdom.

1 Corinthians 6:10

“Nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

This verse lists behaviors, including greed, that are incompatible with inheriting the kingdom of God. The inherent greed in pursuing lottery winnings is cautioned against in this verse.

1 John 2:16

“For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – comes not from the Father but from the world.”

This verse speaks to the worldly nature of certain desires, like the desire for lottery winnings. It’s a reminder that such desires are not aligned with the values of the Father, but with the world.

James 5:1-6

“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you…”

This passage is a stark warning to the rich about the future miseries they will face. Those who seek wealth through the lottery may want to heed this warning, as it clearly links wealth with upcoming suffering.

Matthew 13:22

“The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.”

This verse cautions that the pursuit of wealth can lead to spiritual unfruitfulness, likening it to seed choked by thorns. It serves as a warning to those who might be distracted by the pursuit of lottery riches from hearing the word of God.