Should We Bet With What Belongs to God?

I used to enjoy listening to a local sports radio station in the Little Rock area. Lately, however, I can barely get through a segment without hearing a betting line, odds update, or gambling sponsor. It's everywhere — and it's not accidental. Sports betting is now a $160 billion industry, and it's buying influence fast.

For Christ followers commissioned to make disciples, this cultural moment deserves an honest conversation about financial discipleship.

Here's the principle that frames everything: Biblical stewardship is not about managing our money — it's about managing God's money. Every dollar we earn, save, or spend passes through our hands as a trust. We are managers, not owners.

So the question isn't simply, "Is sports betting legal?" In most states, including my state, it now is. The better question is: Should we gamble with something that doesn't belong to us?

Scripture is clear on the heart behind it. Proverbs warns against wealth pursued hastily (13:11). Paul exposes the trap of wanting to get rich quickly (1 Timothy 6:9–10). And Hebrews calls us to contentment rooted not in our balance sheet, but in God's faithfulness (13:5).

Gambling, no matter how benign it may seem, isn't just a financial risk — it's a stewardship question. And as those called to model faithful living for our congregations and communities, the answer seems clear.

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Steve Crawley, PhD

BMA Financial

Executive Director