Who are the scoffers in the bible?

Written by Lee Stevenson, sorry I am a lousy editor.

I am writing this to show what scoffing is and how to avoid mocking God.

Scoffing means to show contempt, disrespect or mock. Mock means to laugh at or ridicule. We have to be careful we do not scoff at God or Mock him. We are warned God is not one to be mocked so how could we be mocking God? Well if we laugh at , disrespect or ridicule or even doubt his word or we disobey it we are mocking it because we are scoffing at it. The bible tells us those who are disobedient in the least is disobedient in the most. So if we disregard any of his laws and commands then we are scoffing at God.

Jesus told us to stay awake. Many scoffers exist now days and they doubt that the end of this system is here even though all the signs Jesus has mentioned have almost been fulfilled there are only a few prophecies left. We were warned when we see these things occur to start preparing this means our focus she be more on spiritual matters then on things of the world. We have certain responsibilities we have to take care of but now more then ever we need to heed the warnings and prepare. The bible said many would take no note until it was too late and they would be destroyed. Jesus warned it would be just as in Noah’s day people would take no note until the destruction was suddenly upon them. For those who prepared these are not fearful times because we know deliverance is near. But for those who have not prepared spiritually they will not have applied themselves spiritually to build up their faith and it will be fearful times for them.

So if we do not know God’s word and do not see the signs that we were told to watch for and have doubts about what time frame we are in our actions , could show we are scoffing at God because we are not preparing. Remember it is our actions that show our faith not our words. If we have doubts and are not preparing then we are scoffing at God because we are telling him we do not believe him.

So if we doubt Gods word we are a scoffer. If we easily brush it aside when it is convenient then we are a scoffer. The bible warns that this will hinder a person from being able to learn about his word. The bible says we shouldn’t even keep company with scoffers. We need to lead by example. If we are keeping company with scoffers what is that telling them? It is telling them it is ok for they to mock God. What are we telling God if we keep company with scoffers? Our actions would be telling him we are a scoffer to because we approve of the behavior.

If we refuse to hear Gods word and refuse to obey it we are scoffing at God. The bible says the one refusing to hear God’s words, their prayers are detestable to God.

There are those who pick and choose what they want to believe about God and the bible . These ones are scoffers in their own way. The bible say not to reprove them it will only invite anger and ridicule on yourself. The bible even warns you could get hurt. If someone is a scoffer do not try to teach them you cannot. They will ridicule, try to shame you and try to tear you apart. It will only become a debate and we are not supposed to debate God’s word with people we are to show them the truth and leave the rest up to them and Jehovah.

What if you did not pay attention and married someone who was a scoffer. Well you could have children and then the scoffer may get angry at you because of your love and loyalty to God. This could cause problems in more then one way. First they would put their faith in the world before they would God. Plus God will not bless the house of those who are wicked. It is those who are wicked in God’s eyes not ours. So God will not bless the house of a person who does not read and apply his word in their lives. Remember prayers of a person who does not read and obey his commands is detestable to him. So if you are younger and thinking of getting married make sure the person reads God’s word and applies it because if they do not then your house will not be blessed and the scoffers prayers will not be heard.

Some people become scoffers because they see the wicked who seem to live a care free life and accumulate wealth. Often times they eventually pay for it. If they do not They will on God’s great day of judgment. Those who remained faithful and loyal to God will reap rewards from storing treasure in heaven that will last forever. It is not worth the apparent care free and easy life those people are living at the cost that it will cost them. They have no hope in living forever because they are giving up that hope and putting their faith and trust in things of the world which will perish soon. Those who remain faithful and do not scoff at God will live forever, but there will be destruction for the scoffers so they have no hope of living forever. The Jesus warned you cannot be the slave of two master, you will either be a slave to wealth or a slave to God. Jesus said if you love one you will despise the other. Surely we would not want to get so caught up in accumulating wealth that we come to despise God. The things of this world will be gone soon the things in the new system will be forever. Why not work for things that we will be able to keep. All the things in this world come with a lot of stress when you own things in this system there are excess taxes, thieves that can break in and steal them. None of those things will exist in the new system. Rust and moths can also destroy the things in this system. Jesus warned the lamp of our body is our eyes. So where they are focused is where our devotion will be. So we need to be careful and balance things of the world and not let them crowd out the spiritual things.

We could be scoffing at God if we put on a show about the things he would expect us to do, in seeking the glory of man. For example Jesus mentioned how some would put on a big show when they did acts of mercy or if they prayed to seek the glory of men. He stated they have received their reward in full. So we should not put a big show on when we do acts of mercy or when we pray it should be done in private. Our prayers should not be ones rehearsed or memorized they should come from the heart. The bible said there is no need for many words when we pray.

So as you can see a scoffer can be someone who appears to love God, but their actions will show otherwise. We should not keep company with scoffer it could cause God to not listen to our prayers.

(Galatians 6:7-10) ⁷ Do not be misled: God is not one to be mocked. For whatever a person is sowing, this he will also reap; ⁸ because the one sowing with a view to his flesh will reap corruption from his flesh, but the one sowing with a view to the spirit will reap everlasting life from the spirit. ⁹ So let us not give up in doing what is fine, for in due time we will reap if we do not tire out. ¹⁰ So, then, as long as we have the opportunity, let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to us in the faith.

(Matthew 5:19, 20) ¹⁹ Whoever, therefore, breaks one of these least commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in relation to the Kingdom of the heavens. But whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in relation to the Kingdom of the heavens. ²⁰ For I say to you that if your righteousness does not surpass that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will by no means enter into the Kingdom of the heavens.

(2 Peter 3:2-4) . . .. ³ First of all know this, that in the last days ridiculers will come with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires ⁴ and saying: “Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as they were from creation’s beginning.”

(Matthew 24:36-42) ³⁶ “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father. ³⁷ For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. ³⁸ For as they were in those days before the Flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, ³⁹ and they took no note until the Flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be. ⁴⁰ Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken along and the other abandoned. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding at the hand mill; one will be taken along and the other abandoned. ⁴² Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

(Luke 21:25-28) ²⁵ “Also, there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and its agitation. ²⁶ People will become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ But as these things start to occur, stand up straight and lift up your heads, because your deliverance is getting near.”

(Jude 17-23) ¹⁷ As for you, beloved ones, call to mind the sayings that have been previously spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁸ how they used to say to you: “In the last time there will be ridiculers, following their own desires for ungodly things.” ¹⁹ These are the ones who cause divisions, animalistic men, not having spirituality. ²⁰ But you, beloved ones, build yourselves up on your most holy faith, and pray with holy spirit, ²¹ in order to keep yourselves in God’s love, while you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ with everlasting life in view. ²² Also, continue showing mercy to some who have doubts; ²³ save them by snatching them out of the fire. But continue showing mercy to others, doing so with fear, while you hate even the garment that has been stained by the flesh.

(Proverbs 14:6-8)  ⁶ The scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, But knowledge comes easily to the person with understanding.  ⁷ Stay away from the foolish man, For you will not find knowledge on his lips.  ⁸ By wisdom the shrewd man understands the way he is going, But the stupid are deceived by their foolishness.

(Psalm 1:1, 2) 1 Happy is the man who does not walk according to the advice of the wicked And does not stand on the path of sinners And does not sit in the seat of scoffers.  ² But his delight is in the law of Jehovah, And he reads His law in an undertone day and night.

(Proverbs 28:9)  ⁹ The one refusing to listen to the law —Even his prayer is detestable.

(Proverbs 15:12) ¹² The scoffer does not love the one correcting him. He will not consult the wise.

(Proverbs 9:7-9)  ⁷ The one who corrects a ridiculer invites dishonor, And whoever reproves someone wicked will get hurt.  ⁸ Do not reprove a ridiculer, or he will hate you. Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.  ⁹ Share with a wise person, and he will become wiser. Teach someone righteous, and he will add to his learning.

(John 3:20) For whoever practices vile things hates the light and does not come to the light, so that his works may not be reproved.

(Proverbs 3:32, 33) ³² For Jehovah detests a devious person, But His close friendship is with the upright. ³³ The curse of Jehovah is on the house of the wicked one, But he blesses the home of the righteous.

(Psalm 73:9-18) . . .And their tongues swagger about in the earth. ¹⁰ So his people turn aside to them, And they drink from their abundant water. ¹¹ They say: “How does God know? Does the Most High really have knowledge?” ¹² Yes, these are the wicked, who always have it easy. They keep increasing their wealth. ¹³ Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence. ¹⁴ And I was troubled all day long; Every morning I was chastised. ¹⁵ But if I had said these things, I would have betrayed your people. ¹⁶ When I tried to understand it, It was troubling to me ¹⁷ Until I entered the grand sanctuary of God, And I discerned their future. ¹⁸ Surely you place them on slippery ground. You make them fall to their ruin.

(Matthew 6:1-8) 6 “Take care not to practice your righteousness in front of men to be noticed by them; otherwise you will have no reward with your Father who is in the heavens. ² So when you make gifts of mercy, do not blow a trumpet ahead of you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be glorified by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. ³ But you, when making gifts of mercy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your gifts of mercy may be in secret. Then your Father who looks on in secret will repay you. ⁵ “Also, when you pray, do not act like the hypocrites, for they like to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the main streets to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your private room and, after shutting your door, pray to your Father who is in secret. Then your Father who looks on in secret will repay you. ⁷ When praying, do not say the same things over and over again as the people of the nations do, for they imagine they will get a hearing for their use of many words. ⁸ So do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need even before you ask him.

(Luke 16:13) ¹³ No servant can be a slave to two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves to God and to Riches.”

(Matthew 6:19-23) ¹⁹ “Stop storing up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ Rather, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ²² “The lamp of the body is the eye. If, then, your eye is focused, your whole body will be bright. ²³ But if your eye is envious, your whole body will be dark. If the light that is in you is really darkness, how great that darkness is!

Treasures on earth will perish soon but the treasures stored in heaven will never perish.

Written by Lee Stevenson, sorry I do not edit very well.

Now more then ever we need to store up treasures in heaven. Very soon money, gold and silver will have no value. I will show how the bible says this will occur and why we should store up treasures in heaven.

The bible has warned us of the times we are experiencing. It also warns these are the beginning of the pangs of distress. As in times past when God warned of hard times that were coming , he expected his people to prepare. We should be preparing to be as self sufficient as we can be. A denarius for a quart of wheat would be like working a day for a loaf of bread. Not only will food get expensive but it will also become difficult to acquire. We do not have to worry , God has always protected and provided for his people in times like what is about to occur. The difference is this will occur on a world wide scale and things like this will never occur again. This is an indication the new system is almost here and we only need to hold strong a little longer and we will experience joy like we never have before. All suffering, evil and corruption will be done away with.

(Revelation 6:5, 6) ⁵ When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say: “Come!” And I saw, and look! a black horse, and the one seated on it had a pair of scales in his hand. ⁶ I heard what sounded like a voice in the midst of the four living creatures say: “A quart of wheat for a de·narʹi·us and three quarts of barley for a de·narʹi·us; and do not harm the olive oil and the wine.”

(Mark 13:8) ⁸ “For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in one place after another; there will also be food shortages. These are a beginning of pangs of distress.

Money will become useless and even worthless. Precious metals will become so worthless that they will be tossed in the streets. What marks when these things will start is when the world turns on false religion. False religion and merchants profit off the many false practices they get people involved in. They sell a lot of merchandise based on these things. When they turn on false religion those things will be banned and the merchants will lose money. Not only that but greed for power and money will cause things to become very expensive. When the world turns on false religion they will try to force everyone to bow down to the beast and it’s allies and force everyone to turn away from God. If a person refuses to give up true worship and bow to the beast and it’s allies they will not be able to buy sell or trade. So we need to prepare keeping in mind these things are occurring now and they are going to get much much worse.

(Revelation 18:11-14) ¹¹ “Also, the merchants of the earth are weeping and mourning over her, because there is no one to buy their full cargo anymore, ¹² a full cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, and scarlet cloth; and everything made from scented wood; and every sort of object made from ivory, and from precious wood, copper, iron, and marble; ¹³ also cinnamon, Indian spice, incense, perfumed oil, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, carriages, slaves, and human lives. ¹⁴ Yes, the fine fruit that you desired has left you, and all the delicacies and the splendid things have vanished from you, never to be found again.

(Revelation 18:6-14) . . .. ⁷ To the extent that she glorified herself and lived in shameless luxury, to that extent give her torment and mourning. For she keeps saying in her heart: ‘I sit as queen, and I am not a widow, and I will never see mourning.’ ⁸ That is why in one day her plagues will come, death and mourning and famine, and she will be completely burned with fire, because Jehovah God, who judged her, is strong. ⁹ “And the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality with her and lived with her in shameless luxury will weep and beat themselves in grief over her when they see the smoke from her burning. ¹⁰ They will stand at a distance because of their fear of her torment and say: ‘Too bad, too bad, you great city, Babylon you strong city, because in one hour your judgment has arrived!’ ¹¹ “Also, the merchants of the earth are weeping and mourning over her, becconsumed in fireause there is no one to buy their full cargo anymore, ¹² a full cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, and scarlet cloth; and everything made from scented wood; and every sort of object made from ivory, and from precious wood, copper, iron, and marble; ¹³ also cinnamon, Indian spice, incense, perfumed oil, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, carriages, slaves, and human lives. ¹⁴ Yes, the fine fruit that you desired has left you, and all the delicacies and the splendid things have vanished from you, never to be found again.

(James 5:1-8) 5 Come, now, you rich men, weep and wail over the miseries that are coming upon you. ² Your riches have rotted, and your clothing has become moth-eaten. ³ Your gold and silver have rusted away, and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh. What you have stored up will be like a fire in the last days. ⁴ Look! The wages you have withheld from the workers who harvested your fields keep crying out, and the cries for help of the reapers have reached the ears of Jehovah of armies. ⁵ You have lived in luxury and for self-gratification on the earth. You have fattened your hearts on the day of slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one. Is he not opposing you? ⁷ Be patient then, brothers, until the presence of the Lord. Look! The farmer keeps waiting for the precious fruit of the earth, exercising patience over it until the early rain and the late rain arrive. ⁸ You too exercise patience; make your hearts firm, because the presence of the Lord has drawn close.

(Ezekiel 7:19) ¹⁹ “‘They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will become abhorrent to them. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them in the day of Jehovah’s fury. They will not be satisfied, nor will they fill their stomachs, for it has become a stumbling block causing their error.

(Revelation 13:16-18) ¹⁶ It puts under compulsion all people—the small and the great, the rich and the poor, the free and the slaves—that these should be marked on their right hand or on their forehead, ¹⁷ and that nobody can buy or sell except a person having the mark, the name of the wild beast or the number of its name. ¹⁸ This is where it calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the number of the wild beast, for it is a man’s number, and its number is 666.

What will be the complete end of the monetary system is when God gives Jesus the command. Mans rule will come to an end and man will be under the authority of the heavenly kingdom. Anyone who had accepted the mark by obeying the beast rather then God and refused to submit to the heavenly kingdom will be destroyed. But those who obeyed the heavenly kingdom no matter how much pressure Satan and man put on them will be redeemed. So the nations that back that money will be gone. Just as in Germany during their defeat in World War Two, their money became worthless. When all nations are defeated by Jesus and his legions of angels the money they backed will become worthless. Those who were obedient will make it into the new system. I will list how abundant things will be and discuss it at the end of this article. We do not have to worry about all this being done away with because God promises us in the new system we will not be in want of anything.

(Psalm 110:4-6)  ⁴ Jehovah has sworn an oath, and he will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever In the manner of Mel·chizʹe·dek!”  ⁵ Jehovah will be at your right hand; He will crush kings on the day of his anger.  ⁶ He will execute judgment against the nations; He will fill the land with dead bodies. He will crush the leader of a vast land.

(Jeremiah 25:31-33) ³¹ ‘A noise will resound to the ends of the earth, For Jehovah has a controversy with the nations. He will personally pass judgment on all humans. And he will put the wicked to the sword,’ declares Jehovah. ³² This is what Jehovah of armies says: ‘Look! A calamity is spreading from nation to nation, And a great tempest will be unleashed from the remotest parts of the earth. ³³ “‘And those slain by Jehovah in that day will be from one end of the earth clear to the other end of the earth. They will not be mourned, nor will they be gathered up or buried. They will become like manure on the surface of the ground.

It will be a short time. We can have faith that God will fulfill the future promises and those who walk through this great tribulation will get to enjoy life forever on a peaceful new earth, where there will be no suffering and those things will never occur again. True worship has been established again and things have been set in motion for the final battle. The war of Armeggedon will be between those who oppose the heavenly kingdom but it will end when they attack true worship. This will be an attack on God because he called those desiring to worship in truth to Jesus. This is when God will give Jesus the command to redeem those he has called. The end of this battle only those who loved God and Jesus, remained faithful and loyal will remain. Their health will be restored and they will be made spiritually perfect again and death will be done away with so they will not die.

(Daniel 2:44, 45) ⁴⁴ “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. And this kingdom will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it alone will stand forever, ⁴⁵ just as you saw that out of the mountain a stone was cut not by hands, and that it crushed the iron, the copper, the clay, the silver, and the gold. The Grand God has made known to the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”

(Revelation 11:15) ¹⁵ The seventh angel blew his trumpet. And there were loud voices in heaven, saying: “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever and ever.”

(Jeremiah 33:14-16) . . .. ¹⁵ In those days and at that time I will cause to sprout for David a righteous sprout, and he will execute justice and righteousness in the land. ¹⁶ In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will reside in security. And this is what she will be called: Jehovah Is Our Righteousness.’”

(Acts 2:19-21) . . .. ²⁰ The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and illustrious day of Jehovah comes. ²¹ And everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.”’

(Romans 10:11-15) ¹¹ For the scripture says: “No one who rests his faith on him will be disappointed.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. There is the same Lord over all, who is rich toward all those calling on him. ¹³ For “everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.” ¹⁴ However, how will they call on him if they have not put faith in him? How, in turn, will they put faith in him about whom they have not heard? How, in turn, will they hear without someone to preach? ¹⁵ How, in turn, will they preach unless they have been sent out? Just as it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who declare good news of good things!”

(Revelation 21:1-4) 21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. ² I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. ⁴ And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

(Isaiah 65:19-22) ¹⁹ And I will rejoice in Jerusalem and exult in my people; No more will there be heard in her the sound of weeping or a cry of distress.” ²⁰ “No more will there be an infant from that place who lives but a few days, Nor an old man who fails to live out his days. For anyone who dies at a hundred will be considered a mere boy, And the sinner will be cursed, even though he is a hundred years of age. ²¹ They will build houses and live in them, And they will plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. ²² They will not build for someone else to inhabit, Nor will they plant for others to eat. For the days of my people will be like the days of a tree, And the work of their hands my chosen ones will enjoy to the full.

(1 Corinthians 15:26-28) ²⁶ And the last enemy, death, is to be brought to nothing. ²⁷ For God “subjected all things under his feet.” But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that this does not include the One who subjected all things to him. ²⁸ But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone.

(Isaiah 25:8) He will swallow up death forever, And the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces. The reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, For Jehovah himself has spoken it.

(Revelation 20:14) And death and the Grave were hurled into the lake of fire. This means the second death, the lake of fire.

So now more then ever we should be storing up treasures in heaven. Those are forever and will not perish like the wealth in this system is going to. If we pursue material things in this system it could draw us away from storing up treasures in heaven. We store up treasure in heaven by doing our best to imitate Jesus. Jesus is the chief corner stone so should be the foundation of our faith while we put our hopes in God. By doing good works we store up treasures in heaven. This means we teach others bible truths and we help others when possible. It is the spiritual wealth and working to do our best to be righteous that will save those desiring to do God’s will from death. Some of us may be struggling financially which may make it necessary to simplify our lives so we do not lose focus on spiritual things. We should do our best to seek the Heavenly Kingdom. It may get a little difficult very soon but if we remain faithful and loyal to the end and we will receive the future promises that give us hope. We can also be certain God will not forget the work we have done and the love we have shown for his name. By trying our best to remain holy we show the appreciation we have for the ransom sacrifice God provided which was his first born son Jesus Christ. Having wealth is not a bad thing, unless it start taking priority over spiritual matters. When Our pursuit of things that are going to perish soon overtakes our desire for spiritual things it could hinder our storing up treasures in heaven and we could be drawn away from God and perish with the world that is passing away. The new earth will be here soon and only righteous will dwell in the new earth. Those who make it through the great tribulation will get to see some of there loved ones asleep in death in the day of resurrection.

(Matthew 6:19-23) ¹⁹ “Stop storing up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ Rather, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ²² “The lamp of the body is the eye. If, then, your eye is focused, your whole body will be bright. ²³ But if your eye is envious, your whole body will be dark. If the light that is in you is really darkness, how great that darkness is!

(1 Timothy 6:17-19) ¹⁷ Instruct those who are rich in the present system of things not to be arrogant, and to place their hope, not on uncertain riches, but on God, who richly provides us with all the things we enjoy. ¹⁸ Tell them to work at good, to be rich in fine works, to be generous, ready to share, ¹⁹ safely treasuring up for themselves a fine foundation for the future, so that they may get a firm hold on the real life.

(Matthew 25:34-46) ³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right: ‘Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. ³⁵ For I became hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you received me hospitably; ³⁶ naked and you clothed me. I fell sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you visited me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous ones will answer him with the words: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and receive you hospitably, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ⁴⁰ In reply the King will say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ ⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left: ‘Go away from me, you who have been cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. ⁴² For I became hungry, but you gave me nothing to eat; and I was thirsty, but you gave me nothing to drink. ⁴³ I was a stranger, but you did not receive me hospitably; naked, but you did not clothe me; sick and in prison, but you did not look after me.’ ⁴⁴ Then they too will answer with the words: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to you?’ ⁴⁵ Then he will answer them, saying: ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of these least ones, you did not do it to me.’ ⁴⁶ These will depart into everlasting cutting-off, but the righteous ones into everlasting life.”

(1 Corinthians 3:10-13) ¹⁰ According to the undeserved kindness of God that was given to me, I laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, but someone else is building on it. But let each one keep watching how he is building on it. ¹¹ For no one can lay any other foundation than what is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if anyone builds on the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, ¹³ each one’s work will be shown for what it is, for the day will show it up, because it will be revealed by means of fire, and the fire itself will prove what sort of work each one has built.

(1 Timothy 6:17-19) ¹⁷ Instruct those who are rich in the present system of things not to be arrogant, and to place their hope, not on uncertain riches, but on God, who richly provides us with all the things we enjoy. ¹⁸ Tell them to work at good, to be rich in fine works, to be generous, ready to share, ¹⁹ safely treasuring up for themselves a fine foundation for the future, so that they may get a firm hold on the real life.

(James 2:14-17) ¹⁴ Of what benefit is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but he does not have works? That faith cannot save him, can it? ¹⁵ If any brothers or sisters are lacking clothing and enough food for the day, ¹⁶ yet one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but you do not give them what they need for their body, of what benefit is it? ¹⁷ So, too, faith by itself, without works, is dead.

(Proverbs 11:4)  ⁴ Wealth will be of no benefit on the day of fury, But righteousness is what will rescue from death. . .

(Revelation 22:12-15) ¹² “‘Look! I am coming quickly, and the reward I give is with me, to repay each one according to his work. ¹³ I am the Alʹpha and the O·meʹga, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. ¹⁴ Happy are those who wash their robes, so that they may have authority to go to the trees of life and that they may gain entrance into the city through its gates. ¹⁵ Outside are the dogs and those who practice spiritism and those who are sexually immoral and the murderers and the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices lying.’

(Matthew 6:33, 34) ³³ “Keep on, then, seeking first the Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you. ³⁴ So never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties. Each day has enough of its own troubles.

(Hebrews 6:9-12) . . .. ¹⁰ For God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name by ministering and continuing to minister to the holy ones. ¹¹ But we desire each one of you to show the same industriousness so as to have the full assurance of the hope down to the end, ¹² so that you may not become sluggish, but be imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

(1 Peter 1:13-19) ¹³ So brace up your minds for activity; keep your senses completely; set your hope on the undeserved kindness that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ As obedient children, stop being molded by the desires you formerly had in your ignorance, ¹⁵ but like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all your conduct, ¹⁶ for it is written: “You must be holy, because I am holy.” ¹⁷ And if you are calling on the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves with fear during the time of your temporary residence. ¹⁸ For you know that it was not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, that you were set free from your futile way of life handed down to you by your forefathers. ¹⁹ But it was with precious blood, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, that of Christ.

(Romans 12:1, 2) 12 Therefore, I appeal to you by the compassions of God, brothers, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, a sacred service with your power of reason. ² And stop being molded by this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, so that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

(1 John 2:15-17) ¹⁵ Do not love either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; ¹⁶ because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. ¹⁷ Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.

(2 Peter 3:9-13) . . .. ¹⁰ But Jehovah’s day will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar, but the elements being intensely hot will be dissolved, and earth and the works in it will be exposed. ¹¹ Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, consider what sort of people you ought to be in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion, ¹² as you await and keep close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah, through which the heavens will be destroyed in flames and the elements will melt in the intense heat! ¹³ But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.