Topical Encyclopedia A miser is an individual who hoards wealth and is reluctant to spend or share it, often to the point of living in deprivation. The Bible addresses the attitudes and behaviors associated with miserliness, warning against the spiritual dangers of greed and the love of money.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 of generosity versus miserliness, suggesting that withholding leads to poverty, while generosity leads to prosperity. Ecclesiastes 5:13-14 · "There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, or wealth lost in a bad venture, so that when he has a son there is nothing to pass on." Here, the Preacher observes the futility and potential harm of hoarding wealth, emphasizing the transient nature of material possessions. Luke 12:15 · "Then He said to them, 'Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.'" Jesus warns against greed, teaching that true life and fulfillment are not found in material abundance. 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. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows." The Apostle Paul cautions against the desire for wealth, identifying the love of money as a source of various evils and spiritual downfall. 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 your garments are moth-eaten. 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 issues a stern warning to the wealthy who hoard their riches, predicting the eventual decay and judgment that will come upon them. Proverbs 28:22 · "A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty awaits him." This proverb underscores the irony that the pursuit of wealth through stinginess often leads to the very poverty the miser seeks to avoid. Matthew 6:19-21 · "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." Jesus instructs His followers to prioritize heavenly treasures over earthly wealth, indicating that one's heart follows their treasure. The scriptures consistently portray miserliness as a spiritually perilous condition, urging believers to adopt a posture of generosity and trust in God rather than in material wealth. Nave's Topical Index Ecclesiastes 4:7,8Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. Nave's Topical Index Library Saurin -- Paul Before Felix and Drusilla Marks of Having Received the Holy Ghost part iii. A Present Religion part i part ii Resources Miser: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
    |