(Luke 5:5) But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing . . .
Do you ever feel like you’ve worked so hard at something and have gotten nowhere? Have you ever labored and toiled and have gained no further ground than when you first started? Have you ever invested in people and they haven’t moved one inch forward than when you first started putting into their lives? Then you must be frustrated and tired. It’s time to learn a very important lesson. It’s time to do God’s work, God’s way!
Peter was no doubt irritated. He had fished all night and caught nothing. He came in exhausted. He had labored with wearisome effort and didn’t have one fish to show for it. Now it was time to clean the nets and go home with nothing to report to his wife. Jesus came along the shores of Galilee and began to teach. The crowds were large and were pressing in on Him. He saw Peter’s boat and asked to be put out a little from the land, so He could teach the multitudes from the vessel. When He had stopped speaking He instructed Peter to launch out into the deep and let down his net for a catch. Peter replied he had fished all night and came up empty, but that at Jesus’ word he would let down the net.
Wow! Peter caught so many fish his net began to break. Others in an adjoining boat came to his rescue. Now both boats began to sink because of the weight. When Peter saw it, he fell at Jesus’ knees and told Him he wasn’t worthy. Jesus answered and told Peter he would fish for men’s souls from now on. When the boats came in they all were so impressed that they left all and followed Jesus.
Do you ever feel like Peter? Laboring so hard and not much to show for it? Do you feel like giving up? What’s the sense of going on? You’ve been contemplating throwing in the towel and moving on elsewhere where it’s not such a fight? Have you been toiling all night and have caught nothing? Then learn to do God’s work, God’s way.
God has a work for all of us to do. Once we figure out what that work is, we joyfully commence on a course of service. But after a while we find things getting harder and more resistant. So, we put in more effort thinking that this is what is needed. But things don’t change. Then we try working smarter. We start angling and jangling and then end up dangling. We end up getting so twisted up that God has to untangle us. We then turn to the Lord in utter futility. Then the voice of wisdom comes to us. It’s time now to do God’s work, God’s way.
It’s not only what we do for the Lord, it’s how we do it. Think of the task you have been assigned to in life. That job. That ministry. That marriage. That family. That project. Your studies. Or whatever duty it is. Are you approaching that responsibility in your own effort or are you relying on your God’s strength? Does your attitude sync or stink? That’s usually the indicator. God wants us to enjoy the work of our hands (Isa 65:22). If you can’t whistle while you work, then there’s a thistle in the irk.
Doing God’s work, God’s way is the light yoke Jesus promised. (Mat 11:28-30) Find new power in the Holy Spirit! (Acts 1:8) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you . . . (Zech 4:6) ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.
It’s not working harder or smarter, it’s doing God’s work, God’s way. May your joy be full . . . and your nets too!
Louie