The term "miserly" refers to a person who is stingy or hoards wealth, often to the point of neglecting generosity and the needs of others. In the Bible, the concept of miserliness is addressed through various teachings and parables that emphasize the importance of generosity, stewardship, and the proper use of wealth.

Biblical References:

1. Proverbs 11:24-25 · "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 highlights the paradox that those who are generous often find themselves blessed with more, while those who are miserly may end up lacking.

2. Ecclesiastes 5:13 · "There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner." Here, the Preacher observes the detrimental effects of hoarding wealth, suggesting that miserliness can lead to personal harm and spiritual impoverishment.

3. Luke 12:15-21 · In the Parable of the Rich Fool, Jesus warns against greed and miserliness. He tells of a rich man who hoards his wealth, only to die suddenly, leaving his riches behind. Jesus concludes, "This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God." This parable underscores the futility of hoarding wealth without regard for spiritual richness and generosity.

4. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 · "Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." The Apostle Paul warns Timothy about the dangers of desiring wealth for its own sake, which can lead to miserliness and spiritual downfall.

5. James 5:1-3 · "Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail for the misery to come upon you. Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days." James admonishes the wealthy who hoard their riches, predicting divine judgment for their miserliness and lack of compassion.

Theological Insights:

The Bible consistently teaches that wealth is a gift from God and should be used responsibly and generously. Miserliness is often portrayed as a failure to recognize God as the ultimate provider and a refusal to trust in His provision. Instead of hoarding wealth, believers are encouraged to be stewards of their resources, using them to bless others and further God's kingdom.

The teachings of Jesus and the apostles emphasize that true wealth is found in spiritual richness and a life marked by generosity and compassion. The miserly person, in contrast, is often depicted as spiritually impoverished, missing out on the joy and blessings that come from giving and serving others.

Practical Application:

Believers are called to examine their attitudes toward wealth and possessions, ensuring that they do not fall into the trap of miserliness. By cultivating a spirit of generosity and trusting in God's provision, Christians can avoid the pitfalls of greed and live lives that reflect the love and grace of God.(a.) Like a miser; very covetous; sordid; stingy.

Impressive Phrases
... authoritative, independent, arbitrary, and supreme. avaricious, grasping, miserly,
and parsimonious [parsimonious = excessively frugal]. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section iv impressive phrases.htm

"A Fine, Generous Fellow. "
... While "Mean fellow!" "Miserly dog!" and other such epithets, were unsparingly used
in speaking of a quiet, thoughtful young man, named Merwin, who was clerk ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arthur/words for the wise/a fine generous fellow.htm

"Consider the Lilies. "
... heaven. Character, as the years pass on, is revealed on the face. The miser's
face shows the miserly condition of his heart. Jesus ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/how to live a holy life/consider the lilies.htm

The Twelfth Chapter: Acquiring Patience in the Fight against ...
... Yet in their drunken blindness men do not understand this, but like brute beasts
incur death of soul for the miserly enjoyment of a corruptible life. ...
/.../kempis/the imitation of christ/the twelfth chapter acquiring patience.htm

On the Feast of the Nativity, vii.
... an inheritance. The ungodly begin to be righteous, the miserly benevolent,
the incontinent chaste, the earthly heavenly. And whence ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/sermon xxvii on the feast.htm

December the Fifth the Second-Best for God
... the rights of God. There are so many of us who are lavish in our home
and miserly in the sanctuary. We multiply treasures which ...
/.../december the fifth the second-best.htm

The Creation of Moving Creatures.
... You have shown yourself more unjust than the unjust, and more miserly than the miser.
Look to it lest you end like the fish, by hook, by weel, or by net. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily vii the creation of.htm

(On the Lord's Resurrection, ii. )
... For, though the Lord's Passover can be kept by no immodest, self-indulgent, proud,
or miserly person, yet none are held so far aloof from this festival as ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/sermon lxxii on the lords.htm

The First Book
... Did they take it ill that they were not piling up talents of gold in the pursuit
of miserly wealth, when they were passing laws to restrict the circulation ...
//christianbookshelf.org/salvian/on the government of god/the first book.htm

Another Royal Procession
... to give to the Lord's cause. God has been insulted by miserly gifts and
penurious contributions. What they would have been ashamed ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/another royal procession.htm

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)
... The word probably means "crafty" or "miserly," both ideas being suitable to the
context, though "miserly" accords with the setting in Isaiah somewhat better. ...
/c/churl.htm - 9k

Misery (38 Occurrences)

/m/misery.htm - 16k

Grasping (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Seizing; embracing; catching. 2. (a.) Avaricious; greedy of gain; covetous;
close; miserly; as, he is a grasping man. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/g/grasping.htm - 7k

Miseries (4 Occurrences)

/m/miseries.htm - 7k

Miserable (11 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) Worthless; mean; despicable; as, a miserable fellow; a miserable dinner.
4. (a.) Avaricious; stingy; miserly. 5. (n.) A miserable person. ...
/m/miserable.htm - 10k

Breed (6 Occurrences)
... rise." In this verse, the manna is said to have arisen, ie "become alive" (with
worms), to indicate that God's gifts are spoiled by selfish and miserly hoarding ...
/b/breed.htm - 10k

Stingy (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Extremely close and covetous; cheap; unwilling to
spend money; miserly; penurious; as, a stingy churl. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/s/stingy.htm - 7k

Miserly: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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