What Does It Mean to Be a Miser According to the Bible?

A miser is someone who lacks compassion and humanity. They are selfish, uncaring, and focused only on themselves. Such a person often harbors anger and deceit and shows no genuine love for others.

The Bible gives us examples of misers:

Nabal in 1 Samuel 25, who, despite David and his men showing him kindness, refused even to provide basic hospitality like food and water. His selfishness and harshness cost him dearly.
The Rich Man in Luke 16, who lived a life of luxury and selfishness but died in his sin and ended up in torment.

The term “miser” and its characteristics appear clearly in Isaiah 32:5-8:

“The fool shall no longer be called noble,
nor the scoundrel be spoken of as generous.
For the fool speaks folly,
and his heart is busy with wicked schemes,
to practice ungodliness and to utter error against the Lord,
to leave the hungry empty-handed,
and to deprive the thirsty of drink.
The scoundrel plots wickedness and deeds of violence,
saying, ‘On the heels of each distress, let them come—
even though I am guilty of injustice.’
But the noble man makes noble plans,
and by noble deeds he stands.”
(Isaiah 32:5-8, ESV)

This passage contrasts the present fallen world with the future kingdom of Christ. Verse 1 sets the scene:

“Behold, a king will reign in righteousness,
and princes will rule with justice.”
(Isaiah 32:1, ESV)

This is a prophecy about Jesus Christ’s future reign of peace and justice. Unlike today’s world—where corruption is often rewarded, fools are in leadership, and selfishness is praised—Christ’s kingdom will be marked by true justice and honor.

In that kingdom, misers and fools will no longer be respected or called generous. Instead, righteousness and noble deeds will be celebrated. The selfish and wicked will face the righteous judgment of Christ (Revelation 2:27).

It is crucial to realize that God shows no favoritism. Whether one ends up in heaven or hell depends on the state of their heart and their response to God’s grace now. There is no second chance after death (Hebrews 9:27). Today is the day of salvation; tomorrow is not guaranteed.

The last days are marked by a troubling trend: sin and selfishness are often praised rather than condemned. But God calls us to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, who offers forgiveness and new life.