I wanna know if it is biblically wrong to enter for competitions, I'm not referring to Lottery. Just competitions for winning cars or houses?

Hello Tebogo,

You have asked an interesting question that is perhaps much larger than your inquiry. Let's look at several scriptures I found regarding wealth and how we are to labor.

Proverbs 13:11 Wealth [gotten] by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

Proverbs 23:4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

Proverbs 28:22 He that hasteth to be rich [hath] an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

The quick answer, in my view, to your question is that it is not inherently wrong for a Christian to participate in a sweepstakes or free drawing where no money is given for a chance to win a prize. Such contests are perhaps just an advertising gimick used to raise awareness for a product or service. No one looses money so that I might gain the prize.

Lotteries, raffles, and such contests are a different matter, however. When I purchase a lottery ticket, I am participating in a game of chance where those who buy tickets and don't win actually lose their money so that I might win.

That said, I must say that I believe participating in such programs and using them as a fund raiser for perhaps a church or other group opens the door to temptations and mental processes that lead us to conclude that we can gain riches possibly the next time only by participating in greater chance taking. When I am asked to enter a contest, my inclination is to quickly jump at the "chance" as who knows, I might win, right? Then I have found myself looking at my motivation. I want to get something, a new car, prize money, etc., with no work on my part. My flesh fights against that which I know to be truth. Such thinking is a snare, a trap, a hasty lack of wisdom that, left to it's own course, leads to more "chance" taking later. After all, I just might win next time.

Raffles seem harmless and are used by churches and other organizations to raise money for many fine causes. I believe that if we are called to give money to a certain cause, whether it be a church improvement or charity, we should give of our free and willing heart, without the desire for a return of gain to us. We shouldn't need the lure of a new car or crystal vase in order to give to a worthy cause. When we do participate in such events or use them to enhance our fund raising efforts or business growth, we contribute to the degradation of the stigma that rightly should be on "chance for gain". Our conscience and the anointing of the Holy Spirit in us is diluted by such participation. We are seeing the results of such allurement in the United States now, to our shame.

Gambling is sweeping the United States, and perhaps the world, like a wildfire, Tobago. Gambling casinos in the United States, once geographically limited to the states of Nevada and New Jersey, are now opening all over the country. Internet gambling is rampant. The seeds of greed and the lust for wealth obtained without exerting the sweat from our brow are sown by the flesh. Americans are lured into casinos and other forms of gambling by advertisements featuring beautiful men and women, scenes of laughter, and beautiful scenery and luxury amenities. Our country got where we are by the slow boil of sin in our land. We have allowed ourselves to become immune to the prompting of the Holy Spirit that indeed the love of money is the root of all evil as expressed in 1 Timothy 6:9-10

"But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

Contests are not inherently wrong, but encourage motivations in people that surely are contrary to Biblical teaching.

God Bless you, Tegogo.

Nick P.

I don't think that I would be so harsh, because of Lam 3:22-23 "22It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."; but I do know that God's principles are for us to have a good work ethic (Rom 12:11 "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;") I think I need more details about the type of competition is involved because I don't know if it is wrong to go on a "game show" for instance... And it is possible for God to use a competition to bless one of his faithful servants (Rom 8:32 "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?").

Remember it says in Rom 14:23 "And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." so, if God gives you the faith to enter the competition then I am not going to argue with him (Rom 9:20 "who art thou that repliest against God?"), but if he didn't, then look out because 1 Sam 15:22b-23a "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry." & Rom 13:14 "make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." & Jas 1:15 "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." & also don't forget Col 3:2 "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

Nick P. and Slade,

It was a blessing to read your posts. Thank you for adding scripture reference to your thoughts. I agree that we must be cautiously on guard in this area because satan is using gambling as one of his top ways to distract people from the love and grace of Jesus. I am thankful that God has given us a "Guide to life"(Bible) so that the answers can be found.