The Parable of the Rich Fool

¹³ Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

¹⁴ Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” ¹⁵ Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”^(A)

¹⁶ And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

¹⁸ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. ¹⁹ And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool!^(B) This very night your life will be demanded from you.^(C) Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’^(D)

²¹ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”^(E)

³ If anyone teaches otherwise^(A) and does not agree to the sound instruction^(B) of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, ⁴ they are conceited^(C) and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words^(D) that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions ⁵ and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth^(E) and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

⁶ But godliness with contentment^(F) is great gain.^{(G) 7} For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.^{(H) 8} But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.^{(I) 9} Those who want to get rich^(J) fall into temptation and a trap^(K) and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money^(L) is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith^(M) and pierced themselves with many griefs.^(N)

Final Charge to Timothy

¹¹ But you, man of God,^(O) flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness,^(P) faith, love,^(Q) endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight^(R) of the faith. Take hold of^(S) the eternal life^(T) to which you were called when you made your good confession^(U) in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate^(V) made the good confession,^(W) I charge you^{(X) 14} to keep this command without spot or blame^(Y) until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,^{(Z) 15} which God will bring about in his own time^(AA)—God, the blessed^(AB) and only Ruler,^(AC) the King of kings and Lord of lords,^{(AD) 16} who alone is immortal^(AE) and who lives in unapproachable light,^(AF) whom no one has seen or can see.^(AG) To him be honor and might forever. Amen.^(AH)

¹⁷ Command those who are rich^(AI) in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,^(AJ) which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God,^(AK) who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.^{(AL) 18} Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds,^(AM) and to be generous and willing to share.^{(AN) 19} In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves^(AO) as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of^(AP) the life that is truly life.

Favoritism Forbidden

2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious^(A) Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.^{(B) 2} Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. ³ If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” ⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges^(C) with evil thoughts?

⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:^(D) Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world^(E) to be rich in faith^(F) and to inherit the kingdom^(G) he promised those who love him?^{(H) 6} But you have dishonored the poor.^(I) Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?^{(J) 7} Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

⁸ If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”^[a](K) you are doing right. ⁹ But if you show favoritism,^(L) you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.^{(M) 10} For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles^(N) at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.^{(O) 11} For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”^[b](P) also said, “You shall not murder.”^[c](Q) If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

¹² Speak and act as those who are going to be judged^(R) by the law that gives freedom,^{(S) 13} because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.^(T) Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith and Deeds

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?^(U) Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.^{(V) 16} If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?^{(W) 17} In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.^(X)