Consider your own calling, brothers. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God.
Sirach 40:25
Gold and silver make one’s way secure, but better than either, sound judgment.
1 Peter 1:14
Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
On the subject of mutual charity you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. Indeed, you do this for all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Nevertheless we urge you, brothers, to progress even more, and to aspire to live a tranquil life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your [own] hands, as we instructed you, that you may conduct yourselves properly toward outsiders and not depend on anyone.
Psalm 127:3
Children too are a gift from the LORD, the fruit of the womb, a reward.
John 15:17
This I command you: love one another.
Deuteronomy 11:2
It is not your children, who have not known it from experience, but you yourselves who must now understand the discipline of the LORD, your God; his majesty, his strong hand and outstretched arm.
Psalm 74:19
Do not surrender to beasts those who praise you
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
The last word, when all is heard: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is man’s all; Because God will bring to judgment every work, with all its hidden qualities, whether good or bad.
Matthew 13:3-9
And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”