¹⁴ Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, ^(A)riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

Do Not Love the World

^15 (A)Do not love the world or the things in the world. ^(B)If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, ^(C)the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And ^(D)the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

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.

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.

¹⁹ and the ^(A)cares of this world, ^(B)the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.