June 3 - Proverbs 11

Proverbs 11:1 is similar to the saying, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

We express this sentiment in German this way, "He who is afraid of the bushes will never get into the woods."  To the person who is giving, it seems that he will have nothing left at home but will lose everything.  This is the reason why we are so reluctant to give things away.  Therefore he says, "if you want to be afraid of poverty and ingratitude, you will never do good to anyone."  He who looks not to the Word of Him who has promised but at the property given does not believe that he will eventually be fed or will have plenty.  Therefore you must look at the Word of God and at the promises (Matthew 4:4): "Man shall not live by bread alone." If you listen to His Word, I say, He will bless you in the field and at home... But he who does not believe the Lord does not do anything good.  He who overlooks the Word, overlooks the work as well.  (Luther's Works, Vol. 15, pg. 173)