The Parable of the Bags of Gold^(A)

¹⁴ “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey,^(B) who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. ¹⁵ To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,^[a] each according to his ability.^(C) Then he went on his journey. ¹⁶ The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. ¹⁷ So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. ¹⁸ But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

¹⁹ “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.^{(D) 20} The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

²¹ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.^(E) Come and share your master’s happiness!’

²² “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

²³ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.^(F) Come and share your master’s happiness!’

²⁴ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵ So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

²⁶ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? ²⁷ Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

²⁸ “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. ²⁹ For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.^{(G) 30} And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’^(H)

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you,^(C) brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,^(D) holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform^(E) to the pattern of this world,^(F) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.^(G) Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is^(H)—his good, pleasing^(I) and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

³ For by the grace given me^(J) I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,^{(K) 5} so in Christ we, though many, form one body,^(L) and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts,^(M) according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,^(N) then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith;^{(O) 7} if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;^{(P) 8} if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;^(Q) if it is giving, then give generously;^(R) if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

⁹ Love must be sincere.^(S) Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.^{(T) 10} Be devoted to one another in love.^(U) Honor one another above yourselves.^{(V) 11} Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,^(W) serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope,^(X) patient in affliction,^(Y) faithful in prayer.^{(Z) 13} Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.^(AA) Practice hospitality.^(AB)

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you;^(AC) bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.^{(AD) 16} Live in harmony with one another.^(AE) Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[c] Do not be conceited.^(AF)

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil.^(AG) Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.^{(AH) 18} If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.^{(AI) 19} Do not take revenge,^(AJ) my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[d](AK) says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.