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Acknowledgment of the Philippians’ Gift

10 I rejoice^* in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it.^{* 11}Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. ¹²I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. ¹³I can do all things through him who strengthens me. ¹⁴In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress.

15 You Philippians indeed know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone. ¹⁶For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs more than once. ¹⁷Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that accumulates to your account. ¹⁸I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. ¹⁹And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 112

1  Alleluia.
      Blessed are those who fear the Lord ♦︎
   and have great delight in his commandments.
2  Their descendants will be mighty in the land, ♦︎
   a generation of the faithful that will be blest.
3  Wealth and riches will be in their house, ♦︎
   and their righteousness endures for ever.
4  Light shines in the darkness for the upright; ♦︎
   gracious and full of compassion are the righteous.
5  It goes well with those who are generous in lending ♦︎
   and order their affairs with justice,
6  For they will never be shaken; ♦︎
   the righteous will be held in everlasting remembrance.
7  They will not be afraid of any evil tidings; ♦︎
   their heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8  Their heart is sustained and will not fear, ♦︎
   until they see the downfall of their foes.
9  They have given freely to the poor;
      their righteousness stands fast for ever; ♦︎
   their head will be exalted with honour.
10  The wicked shall see it and be angry;
      they shall gnash their teeth in despair; ♦︎
   the desire of the wicked shall perish.

⁹And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth^* so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.^*

10 ‘Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. ¹¹If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth,^* who will entrust to you the true riches? ¹²And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? ¹³No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.’^*

The Law and the Kingdom of God

14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him. ¹⁵So he said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God.