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To: davidtalker
I think there are two principles from the Bible at work here but I still don't know the full answer:
1. Whatsoever is not of Faith is sin. He exhibited much faith in his life today by still believing God for his sustenance whether or not he won. Myself included (in honesty,) if a percentage of others won, they might not have the same trust in God for their daily and future provisions but take for granted what's before them. THIS would turn a heart from God, which He doesn't want. This is the one a lot of people would have a problem with.
2. The Covet aspect of wanting what your neighbor has to the point of being dishonest about how you get it.
3. The thought, as a 'Golden Rule' of taking advantage or participating in a thing that others who are downright poor misdirect their dollars on the 'dream' of winning when they are going against the first two principals.
72 posted on 12/26/2002 9:56:00 PM PST by time4good
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To: time4good
make that three principles.
73 posted on 12/26/2002 9:57:14 PM PST by time4good
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To: time4good
2. The Covet aspect of wanting what your neighbor has to the point of being dishonest about how you get it.

Actually, no. Dishonesty is covered by the stealing and lying commandments. Coveting is simply desiring intensely something that is not yours. And you're right in the sense, it is desiring it not as a goal of something to work for, but just something to GET, without work.

The essence of coveting is the opposite of God's nature, which is to give. It is the essence of Satan's nature, which is to get. See Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 27 for descriptions of Satan's nature.

That said, I doubt the man in question was coveting the lottery winnings. He gave credit to God for his blessing. He probably just played the lottery for entertainment. I don't think God was involved. As another poster noted, random chance happens. Ecclesiastes says "Time and chance happens to all".

On the third hand (See the book "The Mote in God's Eye") God DOES intervene in random events. The lot was used by God to decide which lands the various tribes of Israel received and to decide which disciple would replace Judas as apostle. So we can't exclude God's possible intervention, nor limit Him in any way.

94 posted on 12/27/2002 7:18:59 AM PST by Forgiven_Sinner
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