Let me put it this way: each one of you says something different. One says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Peter"; and another, "I follow Christ."

What I mean, my friends, is this: there is not much time left, and from now on married people should live as though they were not married;

But the truth is that Christ has been raised from death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised.

What I mean is that God made a covenant with Abraham and promised to keep it. The Law, which was given four hundred and thirty years later, cannot break that covenant and cancel God's promise.

What I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature.

In the Lord's name, then, I warn you: do not continue to live like the heathen, whose thoughts are worthless

I tell you, then, do not let anyone deceive you with false arguments, no matter how good they seem to be.

And God, who supplies seed for the sower and bread to eat, will also supply you with all the seed you need and will make it grow and produce a rich harvest from your generosity.

Happy are those who are concerned for the poor; the LORD will help them when they are in trouble.

The LORD will help them when they are sick and will restore them to health.

Wicked people do not really gain anything, but if you do what is right, you are certain to be rewarded.

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

When you give to the poor, it is like lending to the LORD, and the LORD will pay you back.

Be generous and share your food with the poor. You will be blessed for it.

Invest your money in foreign trade, and one of these days you will make a profit.

Do your planting in the morning and in the evening, too. You never know whether it will all grow well or whether one planting will do better than the other.

Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands---all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you."

The first one came and said, 'Sir, I have earned ten gold coins with the one you gave me.'

The second servant came and said, 'Sir, I have earned five gold coins with the one you gave me.'

Another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it hidden in a handkerchief.

He said to him, 'You bad servant! I will use your own words to condemn you! You know that I am a hard man, taking what is not mine and reaping what I have not planted.

Then he said to those who were standing there, 'Take the gold coin away from him and give it to the servant who has ten coins.'

'I tell you,' he replied, 'that to those who have something, even more will be given; but those who have nothing, even the little that they have will be taken away from them.

Do not deceive yourselves; no one makes a fool of God. You will reap exactly what you plant.

So let us not become tired of doing good; for if we do not give up, the time will come when we will reap the harvest.

God is not unfair. He will not forget the work you did or the love you showed for him in the help you gave and are still giving to other Christians.