The Lottery and Covetousness
The lottery is a game of chance in which participants pay for tickets, select numbers, or have machine-spit out numbers and then win prizes if enough of their chosen numbers match those randomly selected by a machine. It is a form of gambling that is popular in many states, primarily because it raises money for state projects without imposing any direct tax on the public. While it is true that there are some specific, tangible benefits of lotteries like the lottery for units in subsidized housing and kindergarten placements, it’s also true that lotteries have been largely designed as an entertainment and social event with little thought given to problem gambling or the fact that the odds of winning the top prize are quite low.
While decisions and fates based on the casting of lots has a long history, it is only in recent times that governments have used it to distribute property and other valuables. Throughout history, there have been numerous private lotteries and the founders of the American colonies ran several. Benjamin Franklin, for example, sponsored a lottery to fund cannons to help defend Philadelphia against the French. George Washington ran one to raise funds to build a road across Virginia’s Mountain Pass.
As the popularity of lottery games grew, the government adopted the game as an official activity in order to promote it and increase revenues. Today, state-owned lotteries operate in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Despite the fact that gambling is illegal in some countries, it remains a popular activity for many people. Moreover, some individuals have developed systems for increasing their chances of winning the jackpot. For instance, they prefer playing the number that they believe to be their lucky one or a number that has sentimental value to them. Others buy a large amount of tickets to increase their chances.
In this way, the lottery plays to a fundamental human trait: covetousness. While the Bible clearly forbids coveting your neighbor’s house, wife, servants, ox or donkey, and the like, it doesn’t prohibit wanting to own your own home, car, vacation, or anything else that money can purchase. People can’t stop themselves from wishing for things they might never have the opportunity to acquire, and this desire explains why so many Americans play the lottery.
Whether it’s a quick fix for financial problems or a chance to change your life forever, the lottery offers a chance at great wealth with a minimum of risk. But for many, the price is a heavy cost. Some people end up losing everything, including their lives. In other words, the lottery isn’t just a gamble, it’s a gamble with your soul. And for that reason, it’s not for everyone.