The lottery is a form of gambling wherein people pay money to enter into a drawing for prizes. Prizes range from cash to goods or services. Its roots date back to ancient times, with the Lord instructing Moses to distribute property in Israel by lot (Numbers 26:55-56) and Roman emperors using lottery to give away land and slaves as part of Saturnalian celebrations. In modern times, the lottery has become a common way to raise money for various public and private projects, including roads, buildings, colleges, schools, churches, canals, and bridges. It is also a popular form of fundraising for military endeavors such as the American Revolutionary War and the French and Indian War.
Many people play the lottery for the hope of becoming rich, but most don’t know that the odds are poor and that they’re being duped. They’re lulled into playing by the promise of a big jackpot and the feeling that it must be somebody’s turn to win, even though they know the chances of winning are slim to none.
Those who gamble are typically coveting money and the things that money can buy, and God forbids it in the Bible (Proverbs 23:5). In addition, it can distract one from working to earn wealth and focuses them on the temporary riches of this world instead of preparing for eternity (Proverbs 10:6). To avoid falling prey to the temptations of gambling, a person must learn to budget his or her entertainment dollars like any other expense.
