Disinterestedness

Luther’s, Luther’s poverty did not arise from wanting the means of acquiring riches, for few men have had it in their power more easily to obtain them. The Elector of Saxony offered him the produce of a mine at Sneberg; but he nobly refused it, “lest,” said he, “I should tempt the devil, who is lord of these subterraneous treasures, to tempt me.”

The enemies of Luther were no strangers to his contempt for gold. A poor student once telling him of his poverty, he desired his wife to give him a sum of money; and when she informed him they had none left, he immediately seized a cup of some value, which accidentally stood within his reach, and, giving it to the poor man, bade him go and sell it, and keep the money to supply his wants.

In one of his epistles Luther says: “I have received one hundred guilders from Taw pereim, and Schartts has given me fifty; so that I begin to fear lest God should reward me in this life. But I will not be satisfied with it.

What have I to do with so much money? I gave half of it to P. Priorious and made the man glad.”