Sunday, August 14, 2022

SO FAR THIS WEEK

This week, we have made attempts to speak to the topic “Lottery- Biblical Stand”. From our discussion so far, we have seen that lottery is a complex and difficult subject to discuss because it has so many different levels, shades and perceptions attached to it.

We also saw from our discourse that ‘casting of lots’, with its varying interpretations, has become a debate in the Christian setting. Nonetheless, after a proper contextual reading and study of some important passages about casting of lots in the Bible, it is clear that the reasons for the practice were to make a decision, find out God’s will on a particular subject/topic, and to fairly close a matter between two or more parties. It is interesting to note that financial gain was never a reason for the casting of lots in the Bible.

From Isaiah 65:11 also, we studied that people who frequently indulge in gambling and lottery do so because they place their trust in the god of fortune “the hope to get lucky”. But scripture admonishes that, things like fortune, fate, luck and destiny are as foreign gods in whom the nations foolishly place their hope. The act displeases the Lord and those who indulge in the act will incur the wrath of God.

As we conclude, we would like to glean some lessons from Matthew 6:24, which says that; “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money”. We see that there is the impossibility of worshipping the true living God and at the same time depending on the god of fortune, fate, luck and destiny. It is either we offer unto God our total devotion or we offer that devotion to the world (lottery). We can’t serve God and money at the same time.

Prayer Guide: Lord God almighty, our heart desire is that we will know you more and serve you with all our heart, soul and body. Amen.

Memory Verse For This Week: Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) – “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

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