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The Lottery - Good or Bad? Nov 27 2011
"He who tills his land shall be satisfied with bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits is lacking in sense." - Proverbs 12:11
Money can, indeed, solve a lot of problems. There are many good things that can be done with dollars. But, there are also terrible human tragedies that await those who believe money will solve most of their problems.
One of the reasons I don't support the states' legalizing and encouraging gambling—be it the lottery or casinos—is because it appeals to the idea that we can get rich by doing nothing. I realize that for many, gambling is a form of entertainment. Yet, very often the people who have the least are the ones who buy into this mindset. It just tugs at my heart when I see a poor individual standing there in the convenience store, buying all those lottery tickets—sometimes with young children resting on both arms. I cringe when I think about how much of their already meager wages are going into this pipe dream that they will find instant wealth.
This type of thinking just doesn't make sense. It's a sign of a person's lack of understanding. And sadly, the state encourages this mindset. And even worse, in my state, the lottery often takes money from the poor to pay for the affluent kids' college educations. How unjust can that be?
We must not only learn how to spend money wisely, we need to make sure we understand how to pursue money in a way that makes sense. Playing the lottery just isn't one of them.
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5 Comments
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Yes, report it NevermindI guess people are scared of this devotion, but I agree with you Bryant. Since Georgia instituted the lottery I have never spent the first dollar on buying a ticket. I worked too hard for my money to just walk up to a counter and give it away on a chance. I stood and watched a young woman gamble every penny of her paycheck away, right after the clerck cashed her check. She began to cry and ask the clerck what was she going to do about feeding her children since she was a single Mom? He just shrugged his shoulders and said "it is not my problem." It is sad, but when society says it is okay, what are you going to do. People don't want to listen when we try to help them, they say we are over stepping our bounds but then when we step in to help and try to advise, they say they don't want to hear it.
All I know is the world is heading down a dangerous street. I just keep praying and trusting the Lord to keep me in his will. Have a blessed day!
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Yes, report it NevermindGeorgia came up with the perfect "deal with the devil" with the lottery. Parents of college bound kids love it. The in state schools love it. And, the victims are all volunteers.
It is just another indication of the moral decay of a society. Taxes on alcohol and tobacco are two of the highest revenue producers for the states as well.
I don't think people are scared of this topic. I just think they are ambivalent. That suits the state just fine.
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Yes, report it NevermindIf Robin Hood took from the wealthy to give to the poor, then this must be Hood Robin taking from the poor to give to the wealthy.
I did not like the lottery when it was put into place, however we do currently benefit from the Hope Scholarship. I do not like to look the gift horse in the mouth!
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Yes, report it NevermindThere you have it!
All the people who have benefited from the "Hope Scholarship" (including several in my own family), just take the money and turn a blind eye to the suffering caused by the "false hope" of the lottery ticket buyer like the one Jerry described.
That's what a deal with the devil looks like.
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Yes, report it NevermindI have to disagree about the hope scholarship comments. Both my husband and I came from low-middle class families and we worked hard to earn the hope scholarship. Our families could not afford to send us to college. Due to the hope, we were able to graduate from local colleges (with honors) with no debt. It is a choice what you spend your money on. If you want to buy a lottery ticket when you know you have a child to feed, then you are making an ignorant choice. If you buy a lottery ticket out of fun and you can afford to do it, have some fun. Rather than attacking those that have benefited from the hope, work to help educate those that are wasting their money on the lottery, cigarettes, and alcohol, and then expecting handouts that they don't want to have to work for. I volunteer, donate time, money, and items on a weekly basis, and tutor children for free. I don't feel bad at all for EARNING and using the HOPE scholarship that was funded by others.