Lottery
A competition based on chance in which numbered tickets are sold and prizes given to the holders of numbers selected at random: often sponsored by governments as a means of raising money. Historically, lotteries were widely regarded as painless forms of taxation.
In a society that covets the stuff that money can buy—houses, cars, servants, even children (see Exodus 20:17; 1 Timothy 6:10)—lottery jackpots can be seductive. But if you win, it’s important to remember that the money you get isn’t just yours; it also belongs to other people.
Moreover, your winnings may be subject to income taxes, which can add up to a significant sum, especially if you choose an annuity payment. You should make sure to budget for these expenses if you plan on playing the lottery regularly.
It’s tempting to think that the only reason why people play the lottery is because they “just like to gamble.” But it’s more complicated than that, and it has a lot to do with our inexorable desire for instant riches. That’s what lottery marketers are counting on—and it’s why they’re able to sway many people to spend $50 or $100 a week on their tickets. In the end, however, it’s the promise of a new life that lures people into spending their hard-earned dollars on lottery tickets. But this hope is ultimately empty. The Bible warns against the sin of covetousness, which is what lottery participants are guilty of when they buy tickets.
