^5 (A)Therefore put to death ^(B)your members which are on the earth: ^(C)fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, ^(D)which is idolatry. ^6 (E)Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon ^(F)the sons of disobedience,

The Parable of the Rich Fool

¹³ Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

¹⁴ But He said to him, ^(A)“Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” ¹⁵ And He said to them, ^(B)“Take heed and beware of ^[a]covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

¹⁶ Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. ¹⁷ And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ ¹⁸ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, ^(C)“Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; ^(D)eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night ^(E)your soul will be required of you; ^(F)then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

²¹ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, ^(G)and is not rich toward God.”

Do Not Worry^(H)

²² Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, ^(I)do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. ²³ Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. ²⁴ Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and ^(J)God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? ²⁵ And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? ²⁶ If you then are not able to do the least, why ^[b]are you anxious for the rest? ²⁷ Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even ^(K)Solomon in all his glory was not ^[c]arrayed like one of these. ²⁸ If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of ^(L)little faith?

²⁹ “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. ³⁰ For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father ^(M)knows that you need these things. ^31 (N)But seek ^[d]the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

³² “Do not fear, little flock, for ^(O)it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ^33 (P)Sell what you have and give ^(Q)alms; ^(R)provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

^16 (A)Rejoice always, ^17 (B)pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

⁶ Now godliness with ^(A)contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, ^[a]and it is ^(B)certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸ And having food and clothing, with these we shall be ^(C)content. ⁹ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Instructions to the Rich

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain ^(A)riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things ^(B)to enjoy. ¹⁸ Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, ^19 (C)storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

⁵ Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ^(A)“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ⁶ So we may boldly say:

Be Anxious for Nothing; Think These Thoughts

4 Therefore, my beloved and ^(A)longed-for brethren, ^(B)my joy and crown, so ^(C)stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer

² I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche ^(D)to be of the same mind in the Lord. ^3 [a]And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who ^(E)labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in ^(F)the Book of Life.

^4 (G)Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

⁵ Let your ^[b]gentleness be known to all men. ^(H)The Lord is at hand.

^6 (I)Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with ^(J)thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and ^(K)the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Meditate on These Things

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are ^(L)true, whatever things are ^(M)noble, whatever things are ^(N)just, ^(O)whatever things are pure, whatever things are ^(P)lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ⁹ The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and ^(Q)the God of peace will be with you.

Philippian Generosity

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last ^(R)your^[c] care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, ^(S)to be content: ^12 (T)I know how to ^[d]be abased, and I know how to ^[e]abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things ^(U)through ^[f]Christ who strengthens me.

¹⁴ Nevertheless you have done well that ^(V)you shared in my distress. ¹⁵ Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, ^(W)no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. ¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek ^(X)the fruit that abounds to your account. ¹⁸ Indeed I ^[g]have all and abound. I am full, having received from ^(Y)Epaphroditus the things sent from you, ^(Z)a sweet-smelling aroma, ^(AA)an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God ^(AB)shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ^20 (AC)Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Greeting and Blessing

²¹ Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren ^(AD)who are with me greet you. ²² All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.

²³ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with ^[h]you all. Amen.