Here is someone who lives alone. He has no son, no brother, yet he is always working, never satisfied with the wealth he has. For whom is he working so hard and denying himself any pleasure? This is useless, too---and a miserable way to live.

I have noticed that in this world a serious injustice is done.

God will give us wealth, honor, and property, yes, everything we want, but then will not let us enjoy it. Some stranger will enjoy it instead. It is useless, and it just isn't right.

I saw all this when I thought about the things that are done in this world, a world where some people have power and others have to suffer under them.

Lot also had sheep, goats, and cattle, as well as his own family and servants.

So quarrels broke out between the men who took care of Abram's animals and those who took care of Lot's animals. (At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were still living in the land.)

So let's separate. Choose any part of the land you want. You go one way, and I'll go the other."

So Lot chose the whole Jordan Valley for himself and moved away toward the east. That is how the two men parted.

and got back all the loot that had been taken. He also brought back his nephew Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other prisoners.

Then Lot went to the men that his daughters were going to marry, and said, "Hurry up and get out of here; the LORD is going to destroy this place." But they thought he was joking.

But Lot's wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt.

The older daughter said to her sister, "Our father is getting old, and there are no men in the whole world to marry us so that we can have children.

That night they gave him wine to drink, and the older daughter had intercourse with him. But he was so drunk that he didn't know it.

So that night they got him drunk, and the younger daughter had intercourse with him. Again he was so drunk that he didn't know it.

The older daughter had a son, whom she named Moab. He was the ancestor of the present-day Moabites.

Suppose they say, "Come on; let's find someone to kill! Let's attack some innocent people for the fun of it!

We'll find all kinds of riches and fill our houses with loot!

Riches will do you no good on the day you face death, but honesty can save your life.

Some people spend their money freely and still grow richer. Others are cautious, and yet grow poorer.

Be generous, and you will be prosperous. Help others, and you will be helped.

When that day comes, they will throw away the gold and silver idols they have made, and abandon them to the moles and the bats.

A fool speaks foolishly and thinks up evil things to do. What he does and what he says are an insult to the LORD, and he never feeds the hungry or gives thirsty people anything to drink.

But an honorable person acts honestly and stands firm for what is right.

On the day when the LORD shows his fury, not even all their silver and gold will save them. The whole earth will be destroyed by the fire of his anger. He will put an end---a sudden end---to everyone who lives on earth.

Then Jesus told them this parable: "There was once a rich man who had land which bore good crops.

This is what I will do,' he told himself; 'I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I will store the grain and all my other goods.

But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself ? ' "

Jesus said to his disciples, "There was once a rich man who had a servant who managed his property. The rich man was told that the manager was wasting his master's money,

The servant said to himself, 'My master is going to dismiss me from my job. What shall I do? I am not strong enough to dig ditches, and I am ashamed to beg.

So he called in all the people who were in debt to his master. He asked the first one, 'How much do you owe my master?'

Then he asked another one, 'And you---how much do you owe?' 'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he answered. 'Here is your account,' the manager told him; 'write eight hundred.'

And Jesus went on to say, "And so I tell you: make friends for yourselves with worldly wealth, so that when it gives out, you will be welcomed in the eternal home.

If, then, you have not been faithful in handling worldly wealth, how can you be trusted with true wealth?

"No servant can be the slave of two masters; such a slave will hate one and love the other or will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "There is still one more thing you need to do. Sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me."

But when the man heard this, he became very sad, because he was very rich.

Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Listen, sir! I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times as much."

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and are caught in the trap of many foolish and harmful desires, which pull them down to ruin and destruction.

For the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows.

Listen, my dear friends! God chose the poor people of this world to be rich in faith and to possess the kingdom which he promised to those who love him.

They are the ones who speak evil of that good name which has been given to you.

And now, you rich people, listen to me! Weep and wail over the miseries that are coming upon you!

Your gold and silver are covered with rust, and this rust will be a witness against you and will eat up your flesh like fire. You have piled up riches in these last days.