One of the reasons for contracting the spiritual ailment of tzaraas is tzaras ayin, miserliness, (see Erechin 16a). In the Torah portion of Metzora, when speaking about tzaraas on a house, the Torah states: “The one to whom the house belongs shall come and declare to the kohen saying, ‘Something like an affliction has appeared to me in the house.’ The kohen shall command; and they shall clear the house before the kohen comes to look at the affliction, so that everything in the house should not be contaminated; and afterwards shall the kohen come to look at the house” (Vayikra 14:35, 36).
Rabbeinu Bachya points out from the fact that the Torah uses the term, “’The one to whom the house belongs shall come,’ Chaza”l in Yoma 11b learn out that this house is only his, meaning he doesn’t want to lend out his vessels or host guests in his house, for this affliction can come, for being a miser.”
But Rabbeinu Bachye then points out in the next pasuk that “the Torah is careful with Jewish money, even on earthenware, for these vessels the Torah tells him to get out of the house so that they won’t become contaminated, must be referring to earthenware, for if it was another type of vessel they can just be purified by dipping them in a mikvah, or if it was referring to food and drink he can just eat them while he is contaminated. So rather it must be referring to earthenware which does not become purified in the mikva.” (Click here for Hebrew text.)
Tzaras ayin, the word for miser in Hebrew, literally means ‘causing pain with one’s eye.’ A miser is a selfish person who is not willing to share his possessions with anyone. If the miser is so obsessed with his possessions that he is unwilling to let others use them, or even bring guests into his house, then wouldn’t it make sense that he deserves, measure for measure, for everything that he owns to be defiled, even if it means needing to destroy the earthenware? Why isn’t that just one of the consequences of not sharing one’s possessions? We find many times where people can’t make use of their possessions in the Torah. Like shmita, tithes, first born flock, or sacrificial offerings, especially burnt offerings that are completely burnt up. Hashem doesn’t consider that a waste; on the contrary it’s an atonement. Why wouldn’t the earthenware be an atonement as well?
We see from here how much Hashem loves even the lowliest of His children the Jewish People, and cares for their possessions, even if the person is not willing to share it with others. Hashem cares for them not because the items are really His, deposited to the owner to take care of and use wisely, even with others, on His behalf, but rather simply because Hashem has mercy on the possessions of a Jew.
Feeling and seeing Hashem’s love, even when being punished, I humbly believe, Rabbeinu Bachye is pointing this out as an impetus for the miser to change his attitude and ways.