HOW MANY FISH DID YOU CATCH?

I must confess straightway that I am not much of a fisherman. I don’t have the patience for it. If I cannot reel in one after another, I get no joy from it. That is not a knock on fishing. It is just the way I am wired.

Those of you who are fishermen are reading this and shaking your head. You love to fish. Had you been there when Peter said, “I am going fishing,” you would have responded as the other disciples and said, “We are going with you also.”

There is nothing wrong with fishing. Yet, I wonder in this instance, if the disciples had misplaced priorities. 

Think of their AUDACITY.  The disciples had been commanded by the Lord to fish—for men. Again, fishing as an industry is commendable and fishing as a hobby may be enjoyable. Yet, think of the timing of this. Jesus had only days ago been crucified. Not long before, His lifeless corpse had risen from the tomb!  The disciples had the most exciting news for sinners that could possibly be told, yet what were their priorities?  Fishing for men?  No—they had the audacity just to fish. 

Please do not miss what I am saying. Gospel workers cannot be on the job 24/7. We all need a break. God ordained one day out of seven as a needful Sabbath. Yet, if we are not cautious, we may fritter away the hours and waste opportunities on the trivial. 

How many men and women did you catch last week for Christ?  Jesus asked them if they had caught anything. If I took no time to share the Gospel last week, it is no wonder I have not caught any souls!

But, listen to Christ’s AUTHORITY. These men knew about fishing. They had failed, however. Then, the Risen Lord told them to cast the net on the right side of the boat. 

What difference would that make? 

To their credit, they obeyed His authority and what a catch!  Peter immediately recognized the One speaking to them—“It is the Lord!” Ever impulsive, he dove in and swam to shore to bow before Christ. 

If we are not being productive in ministry, maybe we are not surrendered to Christ’s authority. We call Him Lord and fail to do what He says. Our time, talent, and treasure have been given to us by God. All we have and all we are belongs to Him. He has the final word. We are simply stewards. The question is, “Am I a faithful steward?”  We exhort the people to be, yet are we exemplifying the pattern for them?

The Lord can bless us ABUNDANTLY. They caught so many fish, they could not haul in the net. They had to drag it along as they struggled to row back to shore. 153 fish were in the net and thankfully the net did not break.

There will be times when we labor in fishing for souls and catch nothing. We must surrender to Christ’s sovereignty. We can cast the net, but only God can save a soul. 

Yet, if we cast the Gospel net faithfully, in His time Christ will enable us to labor fruitfully. Changing the analogy, we can claim this promise: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”  (Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬‬)

There will be a harvest from our labor—a catch from our fishing—if we persevere. 

So, preacher, perhaps you have labored all week and are worn out. Today, you need a break. You might go fishing or golfing. I am not going to criticize you. Your church members do enough of that. 

All I am challenging us to consider is, “Am I being faithful and trusting God to make me fruitful?”  It is the Lord who gives that ability. What He wants from me is my availability.

Ponder the words of the old Gospel song,

Must I go, and empty handed, 
Thus my dear Redemer meet! 
Not one day of service give Him, 
Lay no trophy at His feet?

O the years in sinnng wasted, 
Could I but recall them now, 
I would give them to my Savior, 
To His will I’d gladly bow.

O ye saints, arouse, be earnest, 
Up and work while yet ’tis day; 
Ere the night of death o’ertake thee, 
Strive for souls while still you may.

Must I go, and empty handed? 
Must I meet my Savior so? 
Not one soul with which to greet Him; 

Must I empty handed go?