Vincent Mercado Supporter Skeptic turned believer, Catholic, father of 3

There are plenty of verses that seem to suggest about lottery. 

http://www.openbible.info/topics/lottery

The Catholic Church teaches that "games of chance" are permissible but ther is a line which should not be crossed. It is fine to spend your "extra money" on these, but not the "grocery money".

Games of chance (card games, etc.) or wagers are not in themselves contrary to justice. They become morally unacceptable when they deprive someone of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others. The passion for gambling risks becoming an enslavement. Unfair wagers and cheating at games constitute grave matter, unless the damage inflicted is so slight that the one who suffers it cannot reasonably consider it significant. 

CCC 2413

July 29 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Gerald LaRosa Supporter Music Minster, Professional Musician

The answers are in the following questions: Do you trust our Lord to provide all your needs? Do you believe that the Bible instructs you to work in order for you to eat? Do you believe that God is in control and knows every hair on your head? If you won the lottery, would you really be better off or would it actually complicate and add stress to your life? 

If you won "X" amount of dollars, what excuse would you now have to not serve the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and time? After all, you will have all this "free" time after winning the lottery to be able to quit your job.
Another question to ask yourself is how much faith, thoughts, time and energy are you devoting to the lottery as opposed to prayer, devotion and asking God what you can do with the gift(s) He has already given you. 

My opinion is that the lottery is not a sin in itself. As Christ looks into your heart, what will He see? Lust for money, greed, weakness of faith, idolatry, weeds swaying in the wind?

I believe that lotteries have become a means of idolatry in a world swayed by Madison Avenue advertising and our entertainment media. If you play the lottery, be careful on the ground or foundation the "gotta be in it to win it" mantra plays into your mind and heart. 

The sin of the lottery is about the distraction and displacement of your faith. A million dollars will sit on a table and do nothing since all it consists of is paper. It cannot move, repair, or change anything. It does not have a heart or brain. It will sit on that table until a human being decides to put those dollars into motion. 
The dilemma here is that the potential for greatness is equal to the potential for failure in winning the lottery. The larger the winning, the greater will be the responsibility.

December 17 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report