The relentless pursuit of wealth, when driven by selfishness, ultimately defeats itself. A person obsessed with hoarding money and refusing to share it brings about the exact poverty and loss he so desperately tries to escape. A person who rushes to get rich quickly is often driven by a stingy nature, keeping a tight grip on his money and refusing to help those in need [אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This miserly attitude prevents him from sharing his blessings or offering financial support to the poor [אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם].
The primary approach among commentators is that such a person is completely unaware that withholding charity is the very thing that will lead to his financial downfall. Instead of securing his future, his refusal to give guarantees that he will eventually suffer loss and lose his wealth. Commentators offer several explanations for how this self-inflicted ruin occurs, weaving together spiritual, social, and psychological realities.
On a spiritual level, a curse falls upon the efforts of someone who holds back what is owed to others, such as required tithes [רש״י]. Furthermore, life is cyclical. Because this person showed no kindness to others, the wheel of fortune will eventually turn, leaving him or his descendants in desperate need of the very charity he once refused to give [אלשיך, מצודת דוד]. The exact deprivation he forced upon the poor will ultimately strike him [מלבי״ם].
Beyond spiritual consequences, there is a harsh social reality to stinginess. A miser fails to build genuine friendships or earn the loyalty of others. When disaster strikes or when people rise up to take his money, he will find himself completely isolated, lacking the community support needed to defend his wealth [רלב״ג, מלבי״ם].
Finally, from a psychological and business perspective, extreme frugality is rooted in fear and weakness. While a generous person is willing to take calculated risks in business and often reaps significant rewards, the miser is terrified of losing what he has. This anxiety stops him from investing in larger opportunities, causing him to miss out on true financial success [עמנואל הרומי]. Ultimately, even if he manages to accumulate a fortune, his own stinginess will prevent him from ever truly enjoying the fruits of his labor [אלשיך].