A "miser" is a term used to describe an individual who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible, often to the point of forgoing basic comforts and necessities. While the term itself does not appear explicitly in the Bible, the concept is addressed through various scriptures that warn against the dangers of greed, the love of money, and the failure to use wealth for righteous purposes.

Biblical Context and Teachings

The Bible frequently addresses the attitudes and behaviors associated with being a miser, particularly through its teachings on wealth, generosity, and stewardship. The Scriptures emphasize that wealth is a gift from God and should be used wisely and generously to serve others and glorify Him.

1. Warnings Against Greed and Hoarding: The Bible warns against the accumulation of wealth for its own sake. In the parable of the rich fool, Jesus illustrates the futility of hoarding wealth without being "rich toward God" (Luke 12:21). The rich fool's focus on storing up earthly treasures ultimately leads to his downfall, as he fails to recognize the transient nature of material wealth.

2. The Love of Money: The Apostle Paul cautions that "the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" (1 Timothy 6:10). This verse highlights the spiritual dangers associated with an excessive desire for wealth, which can lead individuals away from faith and into harmful behaviors.

3. Generosity and Stewardship: The Bible encourages believers to be generous and to use their resources to help those in need. Proverbs 11:24-25 states, "One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor. A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." This passage underscores the principle that true prosperity comes from generosity, not hoarding.

4. Trust in God’s Provision: Jesus teaches His followers to trust in God's provision rather than relying on material wealth. In Matthew 6:19-21 , He instructs, "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... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." This teaching encourages believers to prioritize spiritual wealth over earthly riches.

5. The Example of the Early Church: The early Christian community exemplified a spirit of generosity and communal sharing. Acts 4:32-35 describes how the believers "were one in heart and soul," sharing their possessions so that "there was no needy one among them." This model of selflessness and mutual support stands in stark contrast to the behavior of a miser.

Miserly Behavior in Contrast to Biblical Principles

The behavior of a miser is antithetical to the biblical principles of generosity, stewardship, and trust in God. By hoarding wealth and refusing to share with others, a miser fails to reflect the character of God, who is described as generous and loving. The Bible calls believers to be conduits of God's blessings, using their resources to advance His kingdom and care for those in need.

In summary, while the Bible does not use the term "miser," it provides clear guidance on the attitudes and actions that characterize such behavior. Through its teachings, the Scriptures call believers to a life of generosity, faith, and stewardship, warning against the spiritual dangers of greed and the love of money.1. (n.) A covetous, grasping, person devoted to saving and hoarding wealth.

2. (n.) A wretched person; a person afflicted by any great misfortune.

3. (n.) A despicable person; a wretch.

4. (n.) A kind of large earth auger.

The Miser
... Book First CLXXXII THE MISER. I saw this day a miser old Receive and count a bag
of gold; ... The Searcher of our hearts will try,. More nicely than the miser's eye. ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/clxxxii the miser.htm

Whether any True virtue is Possible Without Charity?
... iv, 3), "the prudence of the miser, whereby he devises various roads to gain, is
no true virtue; nor the miser's justice, whereby he scorns the property of ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether any true virtue is.htm

He Desired no Other Riches for his Friends but those which Cannot ...
... And it was his principle?That all the treasures in the whole world would not make
a miser happy, a miser happy. A miser is not only a covetous man but a fool. ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/35 he desired no other.htm

Sudden Conversions.
... by his extravagances, went out of doors to meditate on his own folly and misery,
and in the course of a few hours returned home a determined miser, and was for ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon xv sudden conversions.htm

Whether a Man Can Hate Himself?
... Objection 3: Further, Boethius says (De Consol. ii) that "avarice makes a man
hateful"; whence we may conclude that everyone hates a miser. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a man can hate.htm

Whether Use Regards Also the Last End?
... 1114]Q[1], A[8];[1115] Q[2], A[7]), signifies sometimes the thing itself, and sometimes
the attainment or possession of that thing (thus the miser's end is ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether use regards also the.htm

Whether Happiness is Something Uncreated?
... First, there is the thing itself which we desire to attain: thus for the
miser, the end is money. Secondly there is the attainment ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether happiness is something uncreated.htm

Demas
... man's wife, gave him no concern whatever. It will be readily conceded that
the miser is a worldly man. He loves gold for its own ...
//christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/demas.htm

Quatenus Plato Aliique E Veteribus Pr??iverint Marcionitis ...
... Deflevi et luxi, insolitum cernens miser orbem. Et amplius:". ... O! miser natus,
malisque obnoxius. Editus, homo, es, vit?? tu??que miserriam. ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/caput iii quatenus plato aliique e.htm

With the Opening of this ChapterWe Come to Quite a Different Theme ...
... who toils has a distinct advantage over the wealthy, who is denied the quiet repose
the former enjoys." Carefully the Preacher has watched the miser heaping up ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter v with the opening.htm

Miser (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Miser (2 Occurrences). Isaiah 32:5 A fool is no more
called 'noble,' And to a miser it is not said, 'rich;' (YLT). ...
/m/miser.htm - 7k

Miserable (11 Occurrences)

/m/miserable.htm - 10k

Justly (22 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 32:7 And the miser -- his instruments 'are' evil, He hath counselled wicked
devices, To corrupt the poor with lying sayings, Even when the needy ...
/j/justly.htm - 12k

Misdemeanours (1 Occurrence)

/m/misdemeanours.htm - 6k

Miserly (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Like a miser; very covetous; sordid; stingy.
Multi-Version Concordance Miserly (1 Occurrence). ...
/m/miserly.htm - 6k

Churl (6 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A rough, surly, ill-bred man; a boor. 3. (n.) A selfish miser; an illiberal
person; a miser. 4. (a.) Churlish; rough; selfish. Int. ...
/c/churl.htm - 9k

Counselled (26 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Isaiah 32:7 And the miser -- his instruments 'are' evil, He hath counselled
wicked devices, To corrupt the poor with lying sayings, Even when the needy ...
/c/counselled.htm - 14k

Scraping (1 Occurrence)
... 4. (a.) Resembling the act of, or the effect produced by, one who, or that which,
scrapes; as, a scraping noise; a scraping miser. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/s/scraping.htm - 7k

Corrupt (59 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 32:7 And the miser -- his instruments 'are' evil, He hath counselled wicked
devices, To corrupt the poor with lying sayings, Even when the needy ...
/c/corrupt.htm - 25k

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