Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

And when he began to settle up, one debtor was brought to him [owing] ten thousand talents.

"For [it is] as [if] a man leaving on a journey, who called his own servants and handed over his possessions to them.

Then the [one] receiving the five talents went and traded with them, and made five other talents.

But the [one] receiving one went away and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.

And the [one] who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I gained five more talents besides them.'

"And also the [one] receiving the two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'

"Then the [one] having received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you, that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.

"But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter.

Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.

And cast the useless servant into the darkness outside. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

and Joanna the wife of Chuza, a supervisor of Herod, and Susanna, and many others who were ministering to them from their belongings.

And the Lord said, "Who then is a faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?

And Abram said, Master and Lord, what shall You give me? Seeing I am departing without a child, but the son of Masek my home-born female slave, this Eliezer of Damascus [is my heir].

And having approached the man who was over the house of Joseph, they spoke to him in the porch of the house,

And David assembled all the chief [men] of Israel, the chief of the judges, and all the chief [men] of the courses [of attendance] on the person of the king, and the captains of thousands and hundreds, and the treasurers, and the masters of his property, and of his sons, together with the eunuchs, and the mighty men, and the warriors of the army, at Jerusalem.

Let a man so consider us, as ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Now furthermore what is required among the stewards, is that one be found faithful.

For a bishop must be unimpeachable, as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

"Now there was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, enjoying himself splendidly every day.

And not many days after, having gathered together all things, the younger son went on a journey to a distant country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fatted calf for him.'

Then another came, saying, 'Master, behold your mina, which I had laid away in a handkerchief.

A man who helps not himself by his labor is brother of him that ruins himself.

And she knew not that I gave her her grain, and wine, and oil, and multiplied silver to her: but she made silver and gold [images] for Baal.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend [it] in [gratifying] your lusts.