Luther says that the Christian, who is “rich” in the “wealth of his faith,” is able to offer this service willingly and with joy. This holds true, Luther says, even when giving to people who may be unworthy or ungrateful. “For a man does not serve that he may put men under obligations,” he writes. He does not distinguish between friends and enemies or anticipate their thankfulness or unthankfulness, but he most freely and most willingly spends himself and all that he has, whether he wastes all on the thankless or whether he gains a reward. As his Father does, distributing all things to men richly and freely…so also the son does all things and suffers all things with that freely bestowing joy which is his delight when through Christ he sees it in God, the dispenser of such benefits.[1]
[1] Martin Luther, Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences(1517), in Luther’s Works, ed.Jaroslav Pelikan and Helmut T. Lehmann, 55vols. (Philadelphia and St.Louis: Fortress and Concordia,1955–1986) 31:25–33 (page 367)
