No person can serve two masters, for he will either hate the one and love the other, or else he will cling to the one and look down on the other. You cannot serve God and material things [at the same time].
Luke 16:11 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) If therefore you have not been trustworthy in worldly wealth, who will put you in charge of the true [spiritual] riches? More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Therefore if you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches? American Standard Version (1901) If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? Common English Bible If you haven’t been faithful with worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? Catholic Public Domain Version So then, if you have not been faithful with iniquitous mammon, who will trust you with what is true? Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version If then you have not been faithful in the unjust mammon; who will trust you with that which is the true? |
No person can serve two masters, for he will either hate the one and love the other, or else he will cling to the one and look down on the other. You cannot serve God and material things [at the same time].
Sell your possessions and give [the money] to poor people; provide yourselves with money belts that do not wear out [i.e., from the constant use of carrying much money all the time, instead of investing it in others’ needs]. [Then you will possess] an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief can approach, nor moth destroy.
And if you have not been trustworthy with what belongs to someone else, who will give you something of your own?
Therefore, I tell you, make friends for yourselves by using worldly wealth, so that when it fails [i.e., when you run out of money] they [i.e., the friends you made with its wise and benevolent use] may welcome you into the eternal [i.e., heavenly] dwelling places. [Note: The idea here seems to be that by your shrewd use of material possessions for the benefit of others, you are actually storing up treasures for yourself in heaven].
When Jesus heard this He said to him, “[There is] one thing you still lack. Sell all your possessions and distribute [the money] to poor people; become my follower, [and then] you will have treasure in heaven.”
This favor of preaching the unfathomable riches of Christ to the Gentiles was given to me [even though] I am the least significant of all saints [i.e., God’s holy people].
Listen, my dearly loved brothers; did not God choose those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be wealthy in faith and to inherit the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
[Because of that], I advise you to buy from me gold, refined by fire, so that you will become rich; and white clothing to wear, so that you can cover yourself and not be seen as shamefully naked; and eye drops for your eyes, so that you can see. [Note: The foregoing all refer to taking measures for becoming more spiritual].