²¹ Are you a slave? Don’t let that worry you—but if you get a chance to be free, take it.

Slaves

¹⁸ You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect.^[a] Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. ¹⁹ For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. ²⁰ Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.

²¹ For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered^[b] for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

¹¹ In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile,^[a] circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized,^[b] slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

¹³ Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles,^[a] some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.^[b]

²⁹ “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things.

⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

⁴¹ But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!

⁷ Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

⁵ Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,

¹¹ Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.

⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.