The term "cheapen" generally refers to the act of reducing the value or worth of something. In a biblical context, this concept can be explored through various scriptures that address the devaluation of spiritual, moral, or material aspects of life.

Moral and Spiritual Devaluation

In the Bible, the idea of cheapening often relates to the moral and spiritual degradation that occurs when individuals or societies turn away from God's commandments. The Apostle Paul warns against such behavior in Romans 1:21-23 : "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles." Here, the act of exchanging the glory of God for idols is a form of cheapening the divine for the mundane.

Material Devaluation

The Bible also addresses the concept of cheapening in terms of material possessions and wealth. In Matthew 6:19-21 , Jesus teaches, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." This passage highlights the futility of placing value on earthly possessions, which can be easily devalued or lost, in contrast to the eternal value of heavenly treasures.

Human Relationships

The concept of cheapening can also be applied to human relationships, particularly when individuals fail to honor and respect one another as creations of God. In Ephesians 5:25-27 , Paul instructs, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless." This passage underscores the importance of valuing and uplifting one another, rather than diminishing the worth of others through neglect or mistreatment.

The Sanctity of Worship

The Bible also warns against cheapening the sanctity of worship and the house of God. In John 2:14-16 , Jesus cleanses the temple, saying, "To those selling doves He said, 'Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father’s house into a marketplace!'" This act demonstrates the importance of maintaining the sacredness of worship spaces and practices, resisting the temptation to commercialize or trivialize them.

Conclusion

The biblical perspective on cheapening serves as a reminder to uphold the value and sanctity of spiritual, moral, and relational aspects of life. By adhering to God's commandments and valuing what is truly important, believers are called to resist the devaluation of what is sacred and eternal.1. (v. t.) To ask the price of; to bid, bargain, or chaffer for.

2. (v.) To beat down the price of; to lessen the value of; to depreciate.

Faith
... that sin is an evil thing, but they go on in sin, whose corruptions are stronger
than their convictions; and that Christ is excellent; they cheapen the pearl ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/1 faith.htm

He came to his Own.
... The more's the pity. How man does cheapen God's plan of things; leaves
out the kernel, and keeps only an empty shell sometimes. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/he came to his own.htm

The Greatest English Classic
... Latin had been good enough for a millennium; why cheapen the Bible by a translation?
There had grown up a feeling that Jerome himself had been inspired. ...
/.../mcafee/study of the king james bible/the greatest english classic.htm

The Value of Life
... For those who want to spread the spirit of Christ, it becomes important to inquire
at what points our social institutions cheapen life and take the value out ...
/.../rauschenbusch/the social principles of jesus/chapter i the value of.htm

Chapter xxviii
... It is much to be deplored that on this point another attempt to cheapen the holy
record is made by identifying Jacob's anointing of the stone with the so ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxviii.htm

The Pilgrim's Progress
... from street to street, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a little
time, that he might, if possible, allure that Blessed One to cheapen and buy ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the pilgrims progress.htm

Dialogue ii. --The Unconfounded.
The Ecclesiastical History of Theodoret. <. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/dialogue ii the unconfounded.htm

Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/mr bunyans last sermon .htm

Cheapen (1 Occurrence)
... depreciate. Multi-Version Concordance Cheapen (1 Occurrence). Jeremiah
2:36 Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou ...
/c/cheapen.htm - 6k

Badger (9 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To tease or annoy, as a badger when baited; to worry or irritate persistently.
5. (vt) To beat down; to cheapen; to barter; to bargain. Int. ...
/b/badger.htm - 14k

Cheaper (1 Occurrence)

/c/cheaper.htm - 6k

Cheap (3 Occurrences)

/c/cheap.htm - 7k

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