Dictionary of Bible Themes: 5398 loss

5398 loss

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5200 Human civilisation » 5398 loss

In a fallen world, believers are always liable to lose those things that they hold precious. Whilst offering comfort, Scripture urges believers to set their hearts upon eternal treasures, which cannot be lost.

Loss is part of a fallen world

Matthew 6:19

Loss of property

Through theft

See also Job 1:15,17

Through accident

Genesis 31:39; Exodus 21:33-34; Exodus 22:15; 2 Kings 6:5

Through disaster

Job 1:16; Acts 27:10,18-21

Through one's own fault

Proverbs 6:10-11; Proverbs 24:33-34; Proverbs 13:11,18; Luke 15:13

Through the judgment of God

Jeremiah 17:4; Malachi 1:4

Loss of family and friends

Through bereavement

Genesis 23:2; Genesis 37:34; Genesis 50:3; Numbers 20:29; Deuteronomy 34:8; Ruth 1:21 Naomi had lost her husband and her two sons; 2 Samuel 12:18-23; 2 Kings 4:18-21; Ezekiel 24:15-18; Luke 7:11-13

Through violence and disaster

2 Samuel 1:12; Job 1:18-19; Isaiah 47:8-9

Through alienation

Job 19:13-22; Psalm 31:11-12; 1 Corinthians 7:10-15

Losses in warfare

Genesis 14:11-12; 1 Samuel 4:17; Samuel 23:5; Samuel 30:1-2; 1 Kings 20:21; 2 Chronicles 13:17; 2 C 17-20; Luke 21:24

Other kinds of loss

Health and strength

Psalm 31:9-10; Psalm 32:3-4; Psalm 102:3-5,11

Reputation

Psalm 102:8; 2 Corinthians 6:8

Dignity

Job 30:15

Power

Daniel 4:31; Daniel 7:26

Employment

Luke 16:1-3

Time

Exodus 21:19; Acts 27:9

Spiritual loss

Of the ungodly

Proverbs 6:12-15; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10

Of the worldly

Matthew 16:26 pp Mark 8:36 pp Luke 9:25 See also Luke 12:20-21; Hebrews 12:16-17

Of the disobedient

Matthew 7:26-27 pp Luke 6:49

Of the Jewish nation

Jeremiah 50:6; Matthew 21:43

Of the lazy servant

Matthew 25:26-30

Of the careless worker

1 Corinthians 3:12-15

Of the apostate

See also Hebrews 6:4-6

Voluntary loss

By Jesus Christ for the salvation of humanity

Philippians 2:6-11

For Jesus Christ

Matthew 16:25 pp Mark 8:35 pp Luke 9:24 Philippians 3:7-9 See also Matthew 10:39; Matthew 19:12; 1 Corinthians 4:9-13; Hebrews 10:34; Hebrews 11:24-26

Losses made good

By restitution

Exodus 21:19,34

By recovery

Luke 15:4,8,20

By God's goodness

Job 42:10; Matthew 19:29 pp Mark 10:29-30 pp Luke 18:29-30; Romans 11:12

God seeks the lost soul

Luke 19:10 See also Luke 15:4,8,20

Comfort in loss

God's comfort

Psalm 146:9; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

The comfort of others

Job 2:11; John 11:19; Acts 11:28-29; James 1:27

Treasures that cannot be lost

Matthew 6:20 See also Luke 12:33; John 16:22; 1 Peter 1:3-5