Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5760 Human attitudes and behaviour  »  5907 miserliness

A reluctance to part with money, often associated with the hoarding of money or possessions. While Scripture censures the squandering of resources, it also regards the hoarding of money or possessions as potentially idolatrous.

Miserliness as a form of idolatry

Proverbs 18:11; Matthew 6:24 See also Deuteronomy 15:9; Proverbs 11:26; Hosea 12:8; Matthew 6:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-5; Colossians 3:5; 1 Timothy 6:17

The foolishness of miserliness

Ecclesiastes 2:26; 1 Timothy 6:7 See also Psalm 39:6,11; Psalm 49:10; Proverbs 22:16; Proverbs 23:6; Proverbs 28:8,22; Ecclesiastes 4:7-8; Ecclesiastes 5:10-11,15; Luke 12:15-21

Miserliness leads to misery

Proverbs 11:24; 1 Timothy 6:9-10 See also Proverbs 11:16; Ecclesiastes 5:12-14; James 5:1-6

Some examples of miserliness

1 Samuel 25:3; Amos 3:10; Luke 16:19-31; Acts 5:1-2

See also

5412  money
5446  poverty
5503  rich, the
5869  greed
5967  thrift
8260  generosity
8434  giving
8768  idolatry
8808  riches
8827  selfishness