Here we have the answer to the question why so many men, in spite of all their attempts, never get ahead in the world. Though they work from morning till night, Sunday and every other day; though they scheme and scrimp and slave, they remain poor and can never make ends meet. Many of them grow bitter on that account, envy their more successful neighbors, and even turn anarchist. Yet they have no one but themselves to blame.

"The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich," as we see clearly from our text. But these ambitious yet luckless toilers think they can get along without God and His blessing. They have no time to go to church and hear God's saving Word, no time to pray and ask Him for help and for blessing on their work. In their blind pride they will trust alone in their own powers, their own wisdom, their own endeavors - and meet with failure. "...God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." [James 4:6]

It is true, Peter's experience here in our text is often repeated also in the lives of present-day Christians. They at times meet with little or no success, though they toil faithfully at their calling. But in such lean and meager days the Word of their God proves of unfailing comfort and help to them. They know that their faithful God and Father in heaven will not let them starve but will bless and multiply their scanty provisions in the house, as He did the widow's cruse of oil, and will in due time also reward their labor with greater prosperity. That blessed trust gives them a cheerful and courageous heart faithfully to carry on their God-given work. It safeguards them against a rampant, seditious spirit, which also threatens our dear country with disaster and ruin. Let us make Peter's humble and devout declaration: "Lord, at Thy word I will let down the net," our motto, and God's rich-making blessing will ever be with us.

[devotion text by Rev. F. W. Herzberger (1920) -
from the Family Altar - CPH (1957 edition)]
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