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No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
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And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
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The hard-working farmer must be first to partake of the crops.
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Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
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Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel,
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for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.
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Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
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This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him.
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If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
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If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
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Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.