What emotions do people feel when they experience defeat? How about when
they experience success? How have you reacted to your past successes and
failures? In what ways would you like your response to God's work in your
life to be different in the future? Let's look for some answers to these
questions in light of Luke chapter 5....
VERSES 1-3:
And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the
word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, [2] And saw two ships
standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were
washing their nets. [3] And he entered into one of the ships, which was
Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land.
And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
Jesus was surrounded by a multitude of people, pressing upon Him to hear
the Word of God. What a blessing to have people fervently urging you to
share the truth! This situation takes place on the shores of the lake.
Not far from the scene are the owners of two nearby ships, the fishermen
busily washing their nets after a long night's work. How is it they were
not curious about all the commotion the crowd had created? Why was Simon
not pressing upon Christ to hear the scriptures? Obviously, something
had so absorbed his thoughts that he was immune to what was going on around
him - until Jesus drew Simon in with a request for his help and he became
a captive audience. (God made his boat the Savior's pulpit!) What do you
think it was that fully occupied Simon's mind? Jesus knew what it was
and would address it - after God's business had been accomplished...
VERSES 4-5:
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the
deep, and let down your nets for a draught. [5] And Simon answering said
unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing:
nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
After concluding His sermon, Jesus turns to Simon with a specific command
related to his work and a problem he was currently going through, that
being difficulty in catching fish. Like any hard working person, Simon
wanted to be successful in his vocation and it was causing him to become
stressed and on edge, even with the Lord. Nevertheless, God's business
should always be our main concern, amen? Neither should we hastily quit
our callings because we have not the success in them we desire. If we
give proper respect to God's Word, He will accompany us in our troubles!
By the way, whose interests are most important to you today - yours or
the Lord's?
In spite of the time Simon felt he must have wasted the night before,
it was no excuse to miss a sermon. How many times have you wanted to put
off going to church to get caught up with things at home? It's easy to
allow other things to absorb our time but Christ would teach us to adhere
to what is most important! Afterward, Jesus told Simon and his crew to
go further out and let down their nets. This was a practice that was contrary
to all Simon's experience. You see, fishing in the Sea of Galilee was
done at night in shallow water, not during the day in deep water. You
can just imagine the exhausted, discouraged Simon feeling frustrated as
Jesus exercised authority over his ship, thinking of the absurdity of
going out to fish again. After first verbalizing his opinion about Jesus
orders, Simon then yields, but not as he was told. He let down only one
net when Jesus had said to let down many nets...
Does it sound to you like this fisherman fully supported Christ's plan?
Does obedience count when proper attitude doesn't accompany your actions?
How do you typically reply to Jesus instructions, especially in areas
of life where you feel you are the most skilled? If God tells you to do
something a certain way, do you expect to receive any benefit from your
obedience or only suffer at His methods? How often has your opinion congested
your relationship with Christ and stalled true success? We often employ
the term "Master", yet rarely respond to God as He though He had any right
to direct our lives. Opinions can cause us to become over-involved, even
in our own lives!
VERSES 6-7:
And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes:
and their net brake. [7] And they beckoned unto their partners, which
were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they
came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
A shoal of fish just happened to be passing by the very moment the net
was let down… How interesting! In fact, it was so large a quantity, their
net broke! What astounding proof of the reliability of God's Word this
miracle is!!
Ladies, without the Lord, the success we strive for will overpower us.
We won't be able to cope with it. Notice these overwhelmed fishermen beckoned
unto their partners for help… Have you ever done the same? No human help
will ever be adequate enough to help control or try to stay on top of
things. Like the nets and the ship, we will brake and sink under the pressure
of it all unless God is first in our lives!
What a tragedy it would be to climb the ladder of success only to discover
the ladder was leaning against the wrong wall… Only Christ can accomplish
that which "professionals" cannot even do. Whatever the Lord does in our
lives, He does so that we might seek to follow Him without reservation!
Can you submit even when you don't understand what God is doing? We must
obey Him implicitly and trust His leadership and power in ALL matters.
Likewise, how often do we employ the title "pastor" yet disallow our shepherd
from behaving like one towards us? Yes, we block God's man from carrying
out his God-given duty to watch over and instruct us when we become miffed
over personal issues. Do you really want a pastor or do you just like
to use the term? How do you feel about your pastor's counsel or guidance
when he feels the need to tell you something specific? Do you really want
the Lord as your Master, or are you just using that label because it makes
you feel holy to utillize religious lingo?
Luke 6:46
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
By this miracle, Jesus wanted to catch Simon in HIS net! Has He caught
YOU yet, dear lady? True discipleship cannot take place if we do not respond
with reverence to godly authority and government.
VERSES 8-10A
When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart
from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. [9] For he was astonished, and
all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
[10A] And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were
partners with Simon.
The results were staggering; Christ's miracle totally overwhelmed Simon!
He recognized immediately only God could perform such an act. He fell
in worship and confessed his sin. Simon realized how doubtful his own
heart had been of God and how deeply he needed to rely upon the Lord entirely.
Does success equally humble you?? Do you claim each "catch" for yourself
or give God the credit for your successes? How people respond to success
is an indication of their true character… Success or failure are in the
hands of God, they are not ours to arrange. Simon had leaned more upon
his own insight than the wisdom of God and was ashamed. His faith had
been tested and he knew it had failed. Does it bother you more to fail
in worldly ways or spiritual ways?
Notice that when Simon realized his own sinfulness he wished for a separation
from the Lord. Ladies, that is precisely the worst thing we could request!
Did you ever feel that way when you've failed? "God, why do you bother
with me?" When we learn where we have fallen short we should cling to
God, not ask Him to depart!
VERSES 10B -11
And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch
men.And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and
followed him.
In closing, it is always painful to compare our motives with Christ's,
but we are better for it when we respond properly to our heart's condition.
Simon was not only humbled but fully persuaded of God's power. Hence,
without difficulty he walked away from his greatest feat as a fisherman
and chose a better profession instead!
Though it is not wrong for believers to be industrious or ambitious, when
our goals shove obedience and service aside, it becomes sin. The only
safe ambition is directed toward the kingdom of God, not our own advancement.
All labor is fruitless without God's blessing upon it. We must labor under
the direction and authority of Christ if we would avoid empty lives. Success
must never be measured by fame or fortune, for these are temporal measures.
God measures our success with the yardstick of obedience. If you are faithfully
doing the work God gives you, you are successful in His eyes!
Be careful, young ladies, as you try to determine a truly successful young
man. Do not look at his prosperity and popularity to verify whether or
not he is a good catch! To do so would be to use the world's standards
to measure a man. Look on his obedience to the Lord and you will know
if he is really a success! Success is knowing and doing what God says.
We must each diligently strive to accomplish that which is pleasing to
the Lord and like Simon and his partners did, we must leave success behind…
Luke 6:47-48
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will
shew you to whom he is like: [48] He is like a man which built an house,
and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood
arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake
it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Success is not a rock, God is!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2002 Pamela A. Iannello