A very closely related word to "greed" is the word "covetous". Being covetous can be described as one who maintains a strong desire to take the possessions that belong to another person.

I would like to turn your attention to a passage of scripture; Ephesians 5:5 says: "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."

This verse plainly tells us that no sexually loose, morally impure, or covetous person can rightfully claim to be a Christian. Looking even closer at this scripture, we see that God looks on a covetous person as an idol worshipper. This is because covetous people love the things of this world more than God and doing what is fair and honest.


You may believe that you are not guilty of taking other peoples money if you only play the slot machines. However, this is a false belief ; before you step up to the slot machine either the owner of the slot machine, or the previous gamblers/losers have filled the slot machine with the money you are trying to win. The slot machine only provides a non-human middleman between you and the other poor souls who want your money. The money you may win did not just materialize out of thin air; it had to be taken/lost by some poor soul who thought they had the skill or chance to take your money. There is a reason slot machines are known as "one-armed bandits". The latest thing to come out may be internet gambling; this is just as much gambling as playing the slot machines.

One of the trickiest types of gambling are schemes where the organizers dedicate a portion of the proceeds to go to charitable causes. I have even seen churches execute gambling schemes to boost their treasuries. Would selling cocaine be okay for a church fundraising activity - of course not, because that would promote drug abuse. Well gambling promotes idolatry (or covetousness), and we should not use gambling as a fundraiser for charitable causes.

Given the principles outlined above, you might be tempted to think that Holiness.com promotes gambling through the occasional free gifts given out. Look at the three characteristics of gambling given earlier and you will see that Holiness.com does not ask visitors to offer a stake that they will possibly lose in some scheme or game of chance. Holiness.com gives from its resources without tricking visitors out of their money.

Let me give you another example. You may do business with a grocery store because you like its high-quality produce. You pay the store a fair exchange for the excellent quality of product that it offers. Neither the store nor you have risked a stake and you both are happy with the exchange. However, the store may occasionally give you free gifts. These gifts are possible because of the revenue the store makes on all of the fair exchanges (e.g. purchases) made by all its customers. What I am trying to say is that getting something free does not necessarily mean that you are gambling and exercising covetousness. But, I think the 3 characteristics I list generally identify when a particular scheme is gambling.

Money is not a bad thing; it is simply a tool we can use to do good and to provide for our family's well being and enjoyment. However, getting rich should not be the highest aim in our life. When a person is in love with money and wealth, that person is likely to participate in all sorts of schemes and evil actions to get money.

I leave you with this scripture:
I Timothy 6:10 "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."