Does God Pick Lottery Winners?

AP | Dec.26,2002 | self

[davidtalker]

AP- "I just want to thank God for letting me pick the right numbers — or letting the machine pick the right numbers," said Powerball winner Andrew "Jack" Whittaker Jr., dressed in black with a big black cowboy hat.

Does God pick winners in a Powerball Lottery? Does God even want you to play the lottery?

I have real problems with this gentleman. I don't think he has thought through this question. The Bible has nothing to say SPECIFICALLY about gambling. However, Genesis makes it clear we have a bond with God to work by the sweat of our brow. This is repeated elsewhere, I am, by no means, a Bible expert. As a matter of fact, I have only been a Christian for eight years. However, I do know gambling is at odds (oun intended) with the Christian walk. If one becomes hooked on gambling this can lead to sinful behavior on numerous levels. Ignoring your family's needs clearly puts you at odds with God.

I attend a large, and very Conservative, Baptist Church here in Texas. I once asked the assistant Pastor who discipled me what the Church would do if someone offered lottery winning as a tithe to the Church. He said they would refuse to accept the money. My guess is, most Churches will accept these gifts. This man will give a hefty sum of money to his Church in West Virginia. It will be interesting to see whether this Church accepts the money. Your thoughts.

[Arthur McGowan]

However, Genesis makes it clear we have a bond with God to work by the sweat of our brow.

Having to earn a living through hard labor is one of the punishments for sin. So is the estrangement and conflict between men and women, mentioned in the same place in Genesis. That doesn't mean God wants us to suffer these things at all times!

Gambling is a form of entertainment. If you can afford to spend $20 on dinner, there's nothing wrong with spending the money. If you can afford to spend $20 on gambling, there's nothing wrong with that form of entertainment.

Gambling is immoral only when one spends more time or money on it than he can afford, as with any other form of entertainment.

[Bella_Bru]

not an addict=not an addiction. Dang fingers....

[sheik yerbouty]

I'll have to ask Him.

[Lael]

Does God pick winners in a Powerball Lottery? Does God even want you to play the lottery?

Does G-D participate in the Maimonides Dream Experiment?

Does G-D want you to participate in the Maimonides Dream Experiment??

[Torie]

Have you observed who stands in line to buy lottery tickets? Barf.

[snowstorm12]

God has nothing to do with it and luck/random chance have everything to do with it, especially considering there is no God.

[DB]

I have to disagree.

If he put lotto tickets before his families needs you would have a point. That is clearly not the case with this person. He is clearly a hardworking enterprising American. To thank God that something good happened to you is hardly a sin. It is simply called being grateful.

[Bella_Bru]

I work in a law office. We have football pools, NCAA basketball pools, and when the California lottery is up there, we all put in $5.

[Bella_Bru]

My point is, no matter how much money you make, the ring of "$200 million" is awfully sweet.

[Torie]

In my office, folks put up 20 bucks. But I did not. I remain a virgin. I am not going to back off this point. The insatiable demand of government for money has lead it astray. It is now preying on the most vulnerable. It disgusts me.

[folklore]

Man made beer- God made wine.

Jesus made wine out of water.

I have multii cunundrum.

[Fred Mertz]

Have you observed who stands in line to buy lottery tickets?

Yes, I was the closest thing to a white guy in line when I bought them in the Pentagon on Fridays. That was years ago.

[SupplySider]

In my office, folks put up 20 bucks. But I did not. I remain a virgin. I am not going to back off this point. The insatiable demand of government for money has lead it astray. It is now preying on the most vulnerable. It disgusts me.

I agree. Private gambling is one thing, as another government tax yecch.

[Ragdaltx]

Blessed are the cheese-makers!

[folklore]

You just killed this thread.

[BibChr]

I tell you what, let's axe [sic] the Pope. Or, if you're the other kind, let's axe [sic] Jim (or Tammy) Bakker!

Hey!

"No violence posts"!

Dan

[Texas_Jarhead]

I understand your sentiment but when I saw him on the news gives thanks to God and announce that the first thing he would do is give tithe I thought, "God bless him". Is there a purpose for all things under the sun?

[Revolting cat!]

Sorry, I had the impression it was stillborn in the first place!

[alnick]

Since the Bible doesn't specifically mention gambling, I believe that we should leave it to each person (and each individual church) to decide for themselves whether or not they are comfortable with it, assuming that the person doesn't have a gambling problem. We can let God sort it out later. :-)

My impression of this man is that he is a nice, Christian, very generous man with a loving spirit, and I'm happy for him, his family, and his church.