Instructthosewho are richin thispresentworldnot to be conceitedorto fix their hopeon the uncertaintyof riches,but on God,who richlysuppliesus with all thingsto enjoy.
and yetHe did not leaveHimselfwithout witness,in that He did goodand gaveyou rainsfrom heavenand fruitfulseasons,satisfyingyour heartswith foodand gladness."
He who trustsin his richeswill fall,But the righteouswill flourishlike the [green] leaf.
For it is for thiswe laborand strive,becausewe have fixed our hopeon the livingGod,whois the Saviorof allmen,especiallyof believers.
And Jesussaidto His disciples,"TrulyI sayto you, it is hardfor a rich manto enterthe kingdomof heaven.
For richesare not forever,Nordoes a crown[endure] to allgenerations.
instructingus to denyungodlinessand worldlydesiresand to livesensibly,righteouslyand godlyin the presentage,
Let the wordof Christrichlydwellwithinyou, with allwisdomteachingand admonishingone anotherwith psalms[and] hymns[and] spiritualsongs,singingwith thankfulnessin your heartsto God.
And there was a mancalledby the nameof Zaccheus;he was a chief tax collectorand he was rich.
That I not be fulland deny[You] and say,"Whois the LORD?"Or that I not be in wantand steal,And profanethe nameof my God.
"Otherwise, you may sayin your heart,'My powerand the strengthof my handmademe thiswealth.'
Quite right,they were broken offfor their unbelief,but you standby your faith.Do not be conceited,but fear;
As [they had] their pasture,they becamesatisfied,And beingsatisfied,their heartbecameproud;Thereforethey forgotMe.
"O generation,heedthe wordof the LORD.Have I beena wildernessto Israel,Ora landof thickdarkness?Whydo My peoplesay,We [are free to] roam;We will nolongercometo You'?
When you setyour eyeson it, it is gone.For [wealth] certainlymakesitself wingsLike an eaglethat flies[toward] the heavens.
You giveto them, they gather[it] up; You openYour hand,they are satisfiedwith good.
Do not trustin oppressionAnd do not vainlyhopein robbery;Ifrichesincrease,do not set[your] heart[upon them].
"Behold,the manwho would not makeGodhis refuge,But trustedin the abundanceof his riches[And] was strongin his [evil] desire."
But when he becamestrong,his heartwas so proudthat he actedcorruptly,and he was unfaithfulto the LORDhis God,for he enteredthe templeof the LORDto burnincenseon the altarof incense.
"And with the bestthingsof the ancientmountains,And with the choicethingsof the everlastinghills,
Now Abramwas veryrichin livestock,in silverand in gold.
for Demas,having lovedthispresentworld,has desertedme and goneto Thessalonica;Crescens[has gone] to Galatia,Titusto Dalmatia.
I chargeyou in the presenceof God,who gives lifeto all things,and of ChristJesus,who testifiedthe goodconfessionbeforePontiusPilate,
As I urgedyou upon my departurefor Macedonia,remainon at Ephesussothat you may instructcertain mennot to teach strange doctrines,
For they themselvesreportaboutus what kindof a receptionwe hadwith you, and howyou turnedto Godfrom idolsto servea livingand true God,
For thisyou knowwith certainty,that noimmoralorimpure personorcovetous man,whois an idolater,hasan inheritancein the kingdomof Christand God.
noris He servedby humanhands,as though He neededanything,since He Himselfgivesto all[people] lifeand breathand all things;
When they had arrivedand gatheredthe churchtogether,they [began] to reportall thingsthat Godhad donewith them and howHe had openeda doorof faithto the Gentiles.
The discipleswere amazedat His words.But Jesusansweredagainand saidto them, "Children,howhardit is to enterthe kingdomof God!
When it was evening,there camea richmanfrom Arimathea,namedJoseph,whohimselfhad alsobecome a discipleof Jesus.
"For the Gentileseagerly seekallthese things;for your heavenlyFatherknowsthat you needallthese things.
"The kingreflectedand said,'Is thisnot Babylonthe great,whichI myselfhave builtas a royalresidenceby the mightof my powerand for the gloryof my majesty?'
"As [the name of] your sisterSodomwas not heardfrom your lipsin your dayof pride,
Trustin Him at alltimes,O people;Pourout your heartbeforeHim; Godis a refugefor us. Selah.
whomHe pouredout upon us richlythroughJesusChristour Savior,
I solemnly chargeyou in the presenceof Godand of ChristJesusand of [His] chosenangels,to maintainthese[principles] withoutbias,doingnothingin a [spirit of] partiality.
but in caseI am delayed,[I write] sothat you will knowhowone oughtto conducthimself in the householdof God,whichis the churchof the livingGod,the pillarand supportof the truth.
Thereis nothingbetterfor a man[than] to eatand drinkand tellhimselfthat his laboris good.ThisalsoI have seenthat it is from the handof God.
"Howboastfulyou are about the valleys!Your valleyis flowing[away], O backslidingdaughterWho trustsin her treasures,[saying], 'Whowill comeagainstme?'
"Whoeverspeaksa wordagainstthe Sonof Man,it shall be forgivenhim; but whoeverspeaksagainstthe HolySpirit,it shall not be forgivenhim, eitherin thisageorin the [age] to come.
And he would answerand sayto them, "The man who hastwotunicsis to sharewith him who hasnone;and he who hasfoodis to dolikewise."
But thosewho wantto get richfallinto temptationand a snareand manyfoolishand harmfuldesireswhichplungemeninto ruinand destruction.
for in this waythe entranceinto the eternalkingdomof our Lordand SaviorJesusChristwill be abundantlysuppliedto you.
"Immediatelythe one who had receivedthe fivetalentswentand tradedwith them, and gainedfivemoretalents.
