In the context of the Bible, the concept of a "consumer" is not directly addressed as it is understood in modern economic terms. However, the Scriptures provide principles and teachings that relate to consumption, stewardship, and the use of resources, which can be applied to the understanding of a consumer from a biblical perspective.

Stewardship and Responsibility

The Bible emphasizes the role of humans as stewards of God's creation. In Genesis 1:28 , God commands humanity to "fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth." This dominion implies a responsibility to manage resources wisely and ethically, rather than exploitatively. As consumers, individuals are called to consider how their consumption impacts God's creation and to act as responsible stewards.

Contentment and Materialism

Scripture warns against the dangers of materialism and the insatiable desire for more. In 1 Timothy 6:6-10 , Paul writes, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 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." This passage encourages believers to find contentment in God's provision and to avoid the pitfalls of excessive consumption driven by greed.

Generosity and Sharing

The Bible also teaches the importance of generosity and sharing with those in need. In Acts 20:35 , Paul reminds the Ephesian elders of Jesus' words: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." This principle challenges the consumer mindset that prioritizes personal gain and accumulation over the welfare of others. Believers are encouraged to use their resources to bless others and to support the work of the Kingdom.

Simplicity and Moderation

Proverbs 30:8-9 offers a prayer for balance and moderation: "Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread that is my portion. Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God." This passage highlights the value of living a life of simplicity and moderation, avoiding the extremes of both poverty and excessive wealth.

Eternal Perspective

Finally, the Bible encourages believers to maintain an eternal perspective, recognizing that earthly possessions are temporary. In Matthew 6:19-21 , Jesus instructs, "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." This teaching calls consumers to prioritize spiritual wealth over material accumulation, focusing on what has lasting value in the eyes of God.

In summary, while the Bible does not explicitly address the modern concept of a consumer, it provides timeless principles that guide believers in their consumption habits, emphasizing stewardship, contentment, generosity, simplicity, and an eternal perspective.(n.) One who, or that which, consumes; as, the consumer of food.

The Economic Challenge to the Church
... bids fair to solve many of the problems of open and closed shop, collective bargaining,
labor organization, and of relations between producer and consumer. ...
/.../church cooperation in community life/chapter iii the economic challenge.htm

Semi-Parasitism.
... The remarkable thing is that Nature permits the community to be taxed in this way
apparently without protest. For the parasite is a consumer pure and simple. ...
/.../drummond/natural law in the spiritual world/semi-parasitism.htm

Directions for those who Live Together.
... repast, to exhibit yourselves hugging your food like wild beasts; nor helping
yourselves to too much sauce, for man is not by nature a sauce-consumer, but a ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter vii directions for those who.htm

Whether the Effect of Sorrow or Pain is to Burden the Soul?
... sorrow." But that which is depressed is not consumed; nay, it is weighed down by
something heavy, whereas that which is consumed enters within the consumer. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the effect of sorrow.htm

God's Fellow-Workers
... on men. You all know, in your own daily businesses, how there must be a
middleman between the mill and the consumer. The question ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/gods fellow-workers.htm

The First Lie.
... What is war but one of the many things which rob man of his bread? The soldier is
a consumer, not a producer. I do not say he is not a necessity. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/champness/broken bread/lviii the first lie.htm

Several Ways of Controverting his Quibbling Syllogisms.
... It is just as if some one, after having acquired two ideas about a loaf,"one, that
it is made of flour, the other, that it is food to the consumer"were to ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 38 several ways of.htm

Cyrus.
... idolater himself, was puzzled by seeing that the victuals daily spread on Bel's
golden table always disappeared, that after all, the idol was not the consumer. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xii cyrus.htm

Christian Asceticism
... but it is not less disliked and 'blasphemed.' A total abstainer from intoxicants
will not get the good word of the distiller or brewer or consumer of liquor. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/christian asceticism.htm

Five Kings in a Cave
... She had become addicted to the use of morphine. For fourteen years she was a consumer
of the drug. Apparently she could not shake off the habit. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapman/and judas iscariot/five kings in a cave.htm

Consumer (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) One who, or that which, consumes; as, the consumer
of food. Multi-Version Concordance Consumer (1 Occurrence). ...
/c/consumer.htm - 6k

Miscarry (4 Occurrences)
... Malachi 3:11 And I have pushed for you against the consumer, And He doth not destroy
to you the fruit of the ground, Nor miscarry to you doth the vine in the ...
/m/miscarry.htm - 7k

Consumers (1 Occurrence)

/c/consumers.htm - 6k

Caterpillar (6 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary The consumer. Used in the Old Testament (1 Kings
8:37; 2 Chronicles 6:28; Psalm 78:46; Isaiah 33:4) as ...
/c/caterpillar.htm - 10k

Pushed (28 Occurrences)
... Malachi 3:11 And I have pushed for you against the consumer, And He doth not destroy
to you the fruit of the ground, Nor miscarry to you doth the vine in the ...
/p/pushed.htm - 15k

Vines (39 Occurrences)
... Malachi 3:11 And I have pushed for you against the consumer, And He doth not destroy
to you the fruit of the ground, Nor miscarry to you doth the vine in the ...
/v/vines.htm - 18k

Consumed (213 Occurrences)

/c/consumed.htm - 37k

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