^20 (A)Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.

Live as You Are Called

¹⁷ Only let each person lead the life^{[a] (A)}that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. ^(B)This is my rule in ^(C)all the churches.

¹¹ and to aspire ^(A)to live quietly, and ^(B)to mind your own affairs, and ^(C)to work with your hands, as we instructed you,

¹² Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.^[a]

²¹ Were you a bondservant^[a] when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) ²² For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is ^(A)a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is ^(B)a bondservant of Christ. ^23 (C)You were bought with a price; ^(D)do not become bondservants of men. ²⁴ So, brothers,^{[b] (E)}in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

¹⁰ And the crowds asked him, ^(A)“What then shall we do?” ¹¹ And he answered them, ^(B)“Whoever has two tunics^[a] is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” ^12 (C)Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, ^(D)what shall we do?” ¹³ And he said to them, ^(E)“Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” ¹⁴ Soldiers also asked him, “And we, ^(F)what shall we do?” And he said to them, ^(G)“Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your ^(H)wages.”