Investing money wisely is a principle that aligns with biblical teachings on stewardship and resource management. While the Bible warns against greed, it also encourages us to be prudent with our finances, using them for good and multiplying them for greater impact. We’ll look at what Scripture says about making smart financial decisions.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Talking Bad About Pastors
What Does The Bible Say About Burying The Dead
Genesis 23:4
“I am a foreigner and stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.”
This verse highlights Abraham’s request for a burial site to honor his deceased wife Sarah. It emphasizes the importance of burying the dead as a way of showing respect and reverence for their life.
Additionally, Abraham’s recognition of being a foreigner underscores the universal significance of burying the dead across different cultures and societies.
Genesis 25:9
“His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite.”
This verse reveals that Isaac and Ishmael, despite their differences, came together to bury their father Abraham in the family burial site. It highlights the importance of unity and familial duty in burying the dead.
Isaac and Ishmael’s act of burying their father showcases the respect and love they had for him, even in the face of their complex relationship.
Ruth 1:17
“Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”
This verse, while not explicitly about burying the dead, emphasizes the depth of loyalty and commitment expressed by Ruth to her mother-in-law Naomi.
By pledging to remain by Naomi’s side, Ruth demonstrates the importance of standing with loved ones in times of grief and loss, including the responsibility of caring for the deceased.
Genesis 49:31
“There they buried Abraham and his wife Sarah, there they buried Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and there I buried Leah.”
In this verse, Jacob is speaking about the burial of his ancestors and his wife Leah. It showcases the significance of family burial plots and the continuity of honoring previous generations through the act of burying the dead.
This verse underscores the importance of maintaining ancestral ties and preserving family legacies by ensuring proper burial for loved ones.
Genesis 35:20
“So Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it.”
This verse describes Jacob creating a memorial for his deceased wife Rachel. Though not explicitly about burial, it highlights the act of honoring and remembering the dead through physical symbols and rituals.
Jacob’s actions demonstrate the importance of creating lasting memorials to commemorate the lives of those who have passed away and to keep their memory alive.
Ecclesiastes 7:2
“It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.”
This verse encourages reflection on the inevitability of death and the importance of acknowledging its reality. It highlights the value of attending funerals and mourning alongside those who have lost loved ones.
By recognizing the fragility and finite nature of life, this verse prompts individuals to reflect on their own mortality and prioritize meaningful relationships and spiritual growth.
Deuteronomy 34:6
“He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is.”
This verse references the burial of Moses, with his final resting place remaining unknown. It highlights the significance of honoring the deceased, even when their physical remains cannot be found.
The mystery surrounding Moses’ burial serves as a reminder that the act of burying the dead reaches beyond mere physicality and encompasses the spiritual and emotional aspect of honoring and remembering.
Judges 16:31
“Then his brothers and his father’s whole family went down to get him. They brought him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had led Israel twenty years.”
This verse describes the burial of Samson, highlighting the importance of family coming together to honor and lay to rest their loved ones.
Despite Samson’s flaws and shortcomings, his family acknowledged his impact and leadership during his life, demonstrating the importance of recognizing and honoring the achievements of the deceased.
1 Samuel 31:12
“all the valiant men journeyed through the night to Beth-shan, and they took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there.”
In this verse, the men of Jabesh-Gilead journey to recover the bodies of Saul and his sons for proper burial. It highlights the significance of retrieving the remains of the deceased and conducting funeral rites.
The act of burning their bodies underscores the cultural practices and rituals surrounding burial, honoring the deceased by giving them a proper farewell.
Matthew 27:60
“and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.”
This verse describes Joseph of Arimathea providing his own tomb for the burial of Jesus. It highlights the generosity and respect shown by Joseph towards Jesus, even in his death.
The act of sealing the tomb with a large stone further emphasizes the solemnity and finality of burial, as well as the need for securing the resting place of the deceased.
Acts 8:2
“Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.”
After Stephen’s martyrdom, this verse mentions the burial conducted by devout men who mourned his death. It emphasizes the importance of grieving and honoring those who have died for their faith.
The act of burying Stephen reflects the respect and recognition given to his sacrifice, providing closure for his loved ones and allowing them to properly remember and honor his legacy.
Job 19:25-26
“I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end, he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.”
Job’s words in this verse express his unwavering faith in God, even in the face of great suffering and despair. It emphasizes the belief in life after death and the hope of resurrection.
Job’s affirmation serves as a reminder that burying the dead is not merely a final farewell but a testament to the belief in the eternal nature of the human soul and the promise of reunion with God.
John 11:44
“The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’
In this verse, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, demonstrating his power over death and the grave. It highlights the ultimate triumph over mortality and the hope of new life.
The command to take off the grave clothes symbolizes the transition from death to life, underlining the transformative nature of resurrection and the freedom from the trappings of mortality.
Acts 9:37
“When she died, her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.”
This verse refers to Tabitha (Dorcas), a woman known for her acts of charity, and the care taken in preparing her body after her death. It focuses on the cultural practice of washing and reverently placing the deceased’s body.
The act of washing and preparing the body emphasizes the importance of treating the deceased with dignity and respect, acknowledging their value and the impact they had during their life.
Acts 5:6-10
“The young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.”
In this verse, the burial of Sapphira, who had lied to the apostles, is mentioned. It underscores the significance of conducting funeral rites for all members of the community, regardless of their actions in life.
The fear that grips the church and the community upon witnessing Sapphira’s fate serves as a reminder of the consequences of deceit and the importance of integrity in life and death.
2 Chronicles 16:14
“They buried him in the tomb that he had cut out for himself in the City of David. They laid him on a bier covered with spices and various blended perfumes, and they made a huge fire in his honor.”
This verse describes the burial of King Asa, noting the preparations made to honor him. It showcases the cultural practices of paying respects and commemorating the deceased with various rituals.
The use of spices and perfumes, as well as the huge fire, reflects the underlying belief in the importance of honoring the deceased and providing a fitting farewell.
2 Kings 23:30
“Jehu went to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard about it, she put on eye makeup, arranged her hair and looked out of a window.”
In this verse, Jezebel’s actions upon hearing of Jehu’s arrival demonstrate her defiance and lack of remorse, even in her impending death. It portrays her as a figure who refused to acknowledge the significance of her burial.
This verse serves as a contrast to the importance placed on proper burial, highlighting Jezebel’s rejection of traditional customs and the disrespect she shows towards the gravity of death.
Acts 5:5
“When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.”
After lying to the apostles, Ananias is struck dead, with his burial not explicitly mentioned. However, this verse emphasizes the fear that gripped the community upon witnessing the consequence of his deceit.
While burying the dead is not directly addressed, this verse serves as a reminder of the need for integrity and the consequences that may arise when one engages in deceit, potentially impacting how one will be remembered.
John 19:40
“Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.”
In this verse, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus are mentioned as wrapping Jesus’ body and preparing it for burial. It highlights the adherence to cultural and religious burial customs.
By following the Jewish burial customs, this verse underscores the importance of honoring tradition and respecting the deceased by conducting proper rituals and preparations.
1 Kings 13:30
“He laid the body in his own tomb, and they mourned over him and said, ‘Alas, my brother!’ “
This verse describes the burial of the man of God who was killed by a lion. It emphasizes the mourning and expressions of grief exhibited by those present.
The act of burying and mourning over the deceased, even in the midst of tragic circumstances, highlights the importance of recognizing the value and worth of every individual who has passed away.
Matthew 14:12
“John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.”
In this verse, the disciples of John the Baptist bury his body and inform Jesus. It underscores the need for closure and proper burial after the death of a loved one, as well as the significance of informing others about the passing.
By burying John’s body, the disciples exhibit their respect for their teacher, while informing Jesus allows for communal support and understanding during times of loss.
2 Chronicles 24:16
“He was buried with the kings in the City of David, because of the good he had done in Israel for God and his temple.”
This verse refers to Jehoiada the priest, who was buried among the kings due to his righteousness and service in Israel. It highlights the recognition and honor given to those who have faithfully served God and the community.
The act of burying Jehoiada among the kings symbolizes the acknowledgement of his significance and the impact he had on the nation, even after his death.
Leviticus 21:1-3
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: ‘A priest must not make himself ceremonially unclean for any of his people who die, except for a close relative, such as his mother or father, his son or daughter, or his brother, or an unmarried sister who is dependent on him since she has no husband’ “
This verse provides instructions regarding the ceremonial purity of the priests when it comes to the death of their relatives. It demonstrates the importance of maintaining purity while also honoring close family members through burial rites.
While the focus is on the priests’ ceremonial obligations, this verse indirectly underscores the significance of properly burying and mourning family members as an expression of love and respect.