MAY THE CHURCH OR A CHILD OF GOD ACCEPT LOTTO WINNINGS AS A GIFT?
Sakkie Parsons
Someone sent me an email and, among other things, wrote the following:
“Someone said something to me a while ago that has stayed stuck in my heart.
The person made a comment saying she wished someone would win the lotto and buy a sound system for the church and donate it.
As far as I know, the lotto is a sin for me, but why would someone say such a thing and wish it for the house of our Heavenly Father?
Suppose someone does do that—may the church accept the gift?
Or if a family member wins the lotto and gives you a portion of it?
As a child of God, can you accept it?”
I would like to share my answer with you as well.
This is how I see this matter:
To begin with—this may come as a shock to you, but nowhere in the Word do I read that participating in a lottery is in itself a sin.
Wealth or a lot of money/possessions—and the lottery—are not sin, but they can very easily become the stumbling block that keeps you out of Heaven!
—but more on that later.
Many Christians—and even congregations and, by implication, the church in some places—are inconsistent regarding this matter.
Let me explain.
Sometimes I go with people to their church’s annual bazaar.
On one occasion, while we were speaking with one of the pastors, a man came up to us and asked if we would buy a ticket and write the name of the doll he had with him on the ticket, then place it in the box he was holding. At the end of the day, they would draw a ticket, and the person whose name was on the drawn ticket would win the doll, and the doll would be named according to the name on that ticket.
The pastor himself also bought a ticket and filled it in.
I’ve also been to a bazaar where you had to guess how many beans were in a jar and write it on a ticket you had to purchase. The person who guessed correctly—or came closest—would win the sheep that someone had donated.
That is nothing other than a lottery.
You lose your credibility if you preach that lotteries are sinful, but then use a lottery to raise funds—and satan knows that. I think he laughs heartily at how he succeeds in making our Lord’s children appear inconsistent.
As I said at the beginning—nowhere in the Word do I read that a lottery is in itself a sin.
As far as my knowledge goes, the first time we read of a lottery is in:
Leviticus 16:8 “Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the Lord, the other lot for the scapegoat.”
The last time, if I’m correct, we read about a lottery is in:
Acts 1:24–26
24 They prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know all hearts (their thoughts, motives, and desires), show us which one of these two You have chosen
25 to occupy this ministry and apostleship which Judas left to go to his own place [of evil].”
26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
We also read in:
Proverbs 16:33
“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”
In all three of these examples, our Lord is involved—and in the last one, the Word tells us that even in lotteries where people don’t involve Him, He still determines the outcome.
Surely you will agree with me when I say that our Lord would never be involved in sin.
Now, I think I’m going to shock you even more.
If someone came to me and said:
“Sakkie, I won R100,000.00 at a horse race. I want to give it to you on the condition that you donate a third to charity.”
Then my answer to that person would be:
“Here is my bank account number”—and then, out of sheer joy, I might donate two-thirds to charity instead of just one!
For me personally—whether it’s idol meat, lotto winnings, horse race money, or halal food—if I have asked for our Lord’s blessing over it, then as far as I’m concerned, there is nothing preventing me from using it.
But don’t think you can ask for our Lord’s blessing over money or possessions you’ve acquired dishonestly or underhandedly.
That said, there are still other things that a Christian must seriously keep in mind:
Playing the lotto can become addictive—and in my opinion, it is certainly sin if you spend money on a lottery that you actually don’t have, like for example money meant for your or your family’s daily needs.
Also, as I mentioned in the beginning:
Wealth or a lot of money/possessions—and the lottery—are not sin, but they can very easily become the stumbling block that keeps you out of Heaven!
Matthew 19:23–24
23 Jesus said to His disciples, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it will be difficult for a rich man [who clings to possessions and status as security] to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man [who places his faith in wealth and status] to enter the kingdom of God.”
My personal opinion, when I read the Word, is that if you are not rich in worldly goods, you’re actually better off than the person who has a lot.
Ecclesiastes 5:10–11
10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its gain. This too is vanity (emptiness).
11 When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what advantage is there to their owners except to see them with their eyes?
In my house, there is no abundance of money or wealth—but in my house, there is the love of our Lord and love for each other, as well as peace and happiness.
Believe me when I say to you, the person who can say that is by far one of the richest people in this world.
Proverbs 15:15–17
15 All the days of the afflicted are bad, but a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of the circumstances].
16 Better is a little with the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.
17 Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is present than a fattened ox served with hatred.
Ecclesiastes 5:12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach [greed] of the rich does not allow him to sleep.
1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows.
I want to encourage you to look at wealth and/or money as follows:
Hebrews 13:5
Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support], nor will I in any degree leave you helpless, nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”
So—draw your little ticket at the church bazaar if you want to, but do not let lottery have any control over your life.
Greetings,
Sakkie
so that I can prioritize the translation thereof. Please send me an email requesting the required daily thought.