The lottery

[Featherbop]

........

 

[Vic C.]

All these years, too many ahead to think clear.
Some say "where's my crystal ball".
some men play the lottery...
making bets against the governments economy.
They say I'd rather be rich than be alive at all.

When men in miry circumstances fall...
it won't be hard to tell where they placed their resolve.

Some trust in chariots. but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
To each his own won't lead you home and prob'ly never will.
I won't trust in the things I do.
'Cause they will not stand and they won't come through.
So I'll trust in the name of the Lord my God...I'll trust in the name..

In the Name...Jennifer Knapp

 

[evanman]

I will never win the lottery, as I never do the lottery! What a terrible waste of money and temptation to be covetous!

 

[cubedbee]

The lottery isn't a waste of money. In fact, it is better spent than a lot of money. Spending a buck a day at the lottery gives you the chance of winning a lot of money, and you can do anything with that money (give it all to church if you want). Spending 3 bucks a day at Starbucks gives you nothing beyond momentary pleasure (maybe a big stomach too). Same thing with spending $9 on a Friday night to see a movie. Or $20 on that new CD. Or eating out at a restaurant instead of at home.

Every day, all of us spend money on nothing more that our own fleeting pleasure. I just don't see how spending that same money on a game that could possibly pay you millions of dollars is any worse.

 

[Homeskillet]

gambling in and of itself isn't a sin, IMO....but I do believe it can easily become one if allowed.

What I don't understand about all the states who don't have a lottery (mostly in part to religous conservatives against gambling) is that you can find a BINGO hall in every other church. At least with the lottery money is given to the schools.


(To see more on how Florida Lottery dispurses it's money for education click HERE )

 

[Bryan]

Lottery revenue mainly goes to support amatuer sports in Canada. If I buy a ticket, I am supporting a cause that I believe in, AND I also have a chance at winning something (albeit a small chance).

I think like most vices, your attitude and how it may control you is the issue, not the vice itself.

 

[evanman]

The lottery isn't a waste of money. In fact, it is better spent than a lot of money. Spending a buck a day at the lottery gives you the chance of winning a lot of money, and you can do anything with that money (give it all to church if you want). Spending 3 bucks a day at Starbucks gives you nothing beyond momentary pleasure (maybe a big stomach too). Same thing with spending $9 on a Friday night to see a movie. Or $20 on that new CD. Or eating out at a restaurant instead of at home.

Every day, all of us spend money on nothing more that our own fleeting pleasure. I just don't see how spending that same money on a game that could possibly pay you millions of dollars is any worse.

I do not spend money every day in Starbucks, I rarely go to the cinema, rarely buy cds, even less going to restaurants. The desire to win "Big Bux" is somewhat covetous__"Just think of all that you could do!" I remeber the song "Money, money, money" by ABBA and the song, "Money makes the world go around" from the musical "Cabaret", perfect examples of the idolatrous nature of the love of money.

 

[baylok]

The lottery isn't a waste of money. In fact, it is better spent than a lot of money. Spending a buck a day at the lottery gives you the chance of winning a lot of money, and you can do anything with that money (give it all to church if you want). Spending 3 bucks a day at Starbucks gives you nothing beyond momentary pleasure (maybe a big stomach too). Same thing with spending $9 on a Friday night to see a movie. Or $20 on that new CD. Or eating out at a restaurant instead of at home.

Every day, all of us spend money on nothing more that our own fleeting pleasure. I just don't see how spending that same money on a game that could possibly pay you millions of dollars is any worse.

And what would you do with the millions? If you say "spend some", your entire argument goes down the drain. I don't think the money I dropped on "The Passion" over the weekend was a fleeting pleasure. It made me realize the extent of Jesus's sacrifice. The money I dropped on dinner with friends before the movie was a chance to get caught up on things since the last time we were all together. CDs I have purchased can elevate my spirit on a bad day, so I don't think of that as a fleeting pleasure.

Starbucks, though, now there is evil ("You know, add a trendy name, spritz some whipped cream on top, and we take a 25 cent drink and make it a 4 dollar indulgence").

 

[Vic C.]

I do not spend money every day in Starbucks, I rarely go to the cinema, rarely buy cds, even less going to restaurants. The desire to win "Big Bux" is somewhat covetous__"Just think of all that you could do!" I remeber the song "Money, money, money" by ABBA and the song, "Money makes the world go around" from the musical "Cabaret", perfect examples of the idolatrous nature of the love of money.

You forgot the best one...Pink Floyd's 'Money'. :

*edited for misquotation*

 

[cubedbee]

My point was that very few of us our perfect stewards with our money. Most of us regularly waste our money upon non-necessities. If we look at our own spending habits, we could almost all eliminate waste if we were willing to live a little less comfortably. People who choose to spend a few dollars a week on the lottery are the same way. (not those who gamble compulsively) It's not the best way to spend the money, but its no worse than anything else people waste money on.

 

[WiLdAtHeArT]

The lottery is a voluntary tax. I think my taxes are too high already. You have a greater chance of getting killed in a car accident on your way to buy a lottery ticket than you do of actuaqlly winning the lottery. That's not an exaggeration.

Not only is it a voluntary tax, it takes money away from legitimate, job-producing businesses like Starbucks.

Furthermore, the lottery is most often 'played' by the poor - tryiing to strike it rich. Therefore the amateur sports, college tuitions, state parks, etc. are being funded by the poor, and the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

The truth about the lottery - you will never win!!!!!!

 

[Vic C.]

Good posts baylok and WiLdAtHeArT. If someone, especially a Christian, puts their hope in winning the lottery than lets say.....God, they are investing in a false hope.
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Also, just because the government says they're going to do this or that with revenue...do you really believe it to be true? Here in NJ, we were promised the 'earnings' from gambling and the lottery were going to aid senior citizens and State education. Yeah right. Public ed. is as bad or worse than it was years ago. And the only way I see senior citizens benefitting from this is free bus trips to Atlantic City! :o Senior citizens who, for the most part, are on fixed incomes.:x

All aboard!

 

[baylok]

Also, just because the government says they're going to do this or that with revenue...do you really believe it to be true?

Are you saying the government would lie?!? :o Say it isn't so!!

And the only way I see senior citizens benefitting from this is free bus trips to Atlantic City! :o Senior citizens who, for the most part, are on fixed incomes.:x

Like my parents - blowing my inheritance with each pull of the handle...

 

[evanman]

The UK lottery is a private proffit making concern. It does submit to government regulation, and the money set aside for prizes is controlled by a "Commission". However "Camelot", the company that runs the UK lottery, are a proffitt making business and not a charity.

 

[Homeskillet]

If someone, especially a Christian, puts their hope in winning the lottery than lets say.....God, they are investing in a false hope.
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

True, but it's like cubedbee said....How many of us don't spend at least a little money that isn't "for God"....I mean just because you buy a dollar lottery ticket doesnt mean your "hope" is in it.

Also, just because the government says they're going to do this or that with revenue...do you really believe it to be true? Here in NJ, we were promised the 'earnings' from gambling and the lottery were going to aid senior citizens and State education. Yeah right. Public ed. is as bad or worse than it was years ago. And the only way I see senior citizens benefitting from this is free bus trips to Atlantic City! :o Senior citizens who, for the most part, are on fixed incomes.:x

That may be the case there...all I can speak of is here in Florida and every year the schools are required to send a report out that details all the moneys they received from the lottery and how it was disbursed.

You can see one of these reports HERE

Granted, our system still isn't the greatest, but the lottery (here) does give it's payouts like promised. Money isn't the answer to everything, though as you know. It's my belief that a flawed school system will take more to fix than just money.

Just my opinions!

 

[Heidi Mighty Mo]

I don't think the lottery is evil, but I will never play. I see people get addicted to it just like the do to cigarettes, booze, even coffee. If people want to gain money, they should take what they would spend on tickets and invest it...even if it is in a low interest rate savings account, constantly adding to it will cause it to build. After a while, you have money to purchase for something that will last. I see people win a few dollars on lottery tickets and pull tabs then turn around and spend all of that money on more of the same. Did they actually gain? No, they still are out what they originally spent if they don't win any more money on the next batch.

 

[Collier]

I live in Tennessee which recently adopted a state lottery. One night on the news they interviewed a person buying lottery tickets. This person said they were unemployed and had children. Here is the problem with the lottery! People with money do not play as much as those who are poor. Poor people are trying to get rich. In stead of using what little money they have to buy groceries and pay bills they are spending money playing the lottery.

• Is the lottery a sin? Tough to say. People make good arguements on both sides. I think that we can all agree that the heart of the person has a lot to do with it.

 

[Wertbag]

Not only is it a voluntary tax, it takes money away from legitimate, job-producing businesses like Starbucks.

The lottery is a job producing business, theres usually dozens if not hundreds of people related to getting the lottery done, handling the money, running the lotteries offices and all the normal business needs that goes along with it. If the lottery is televised then its even more so.

The truth about the lottery - you will never win!!!!!!

Thats obviously not true, there are hundreds who have won big prizes (eg millions) and thousands who have won sizeable amounts (eg tens of thousands). Personally I only buy lotto tickets on special draws, here in NZ every 10th draw must pay out (to stop the jackpot getting too big), so you could win the million with a 2nd division winning ticket or even less. Then every once and a while they have cars or boats being given away (based on serial number on the ticket), 20 cars between a million tickets means you've got a 1 in 50,000 chance, alot better than normal.

I think the biggest problem is that we as a society have to protect people from their own stupidity. Its sad that people will try things that are dangerous, take substances or destroy their own lives. Why can't people just use common sense some times?
A good example of this was a story from Australia recently. There was a dead whale floating on the surface, and great white sharks had taken the opportunity to feed on the body. A boat load of people wanting a closer view docked with the whale and some climbed on top of it to get the best view! They went as far as patting the noses of the great whites as they broke the surface! Shortly after the police boats drove the people away the carcass rolled over, it was a matter of minutes that would have tipped the idiots into the feeding frenzy.
If people just weren't so self destructive we wouldn't have to have half the laws we do. Back to the subject, poor people shouldn't gamble, its a simple rule that one. Its the first rule of gambling, never take in any money you can't afford to lose.