Fishing is a common hobby in the upper Midwest, but our fishing differs from that described in the New Testament. Today, consider three lessons from Luke 5, a chapter which includes one of the most successful fishing endeavors ever.
In Luke 5:1-2, we read that Simon was cleaning his nets after many hours of fishing. He’d done so at the best time for catching fish, but he tells Christ in verse 5 that he’d caught nothing. Then, at the wrong time of day, after clear evidence that no fish were available for catching, Jesus instructed Simon to go to the deep water “and let down your nets for a catch”(Luke 5:4). We know that Simon’s obedience was not owing to strong faith because he was astonished at the result of following the Master’s instructions; but he obeyed, and so many fish were caught that nets broke and two boats almost sank from the weight of the catch. His response shows that the blessing of the Lord humbled him: “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” As self-centered human beings, we often like to take the credit for the blessing of God; but Simon recognized something we all need to be reminded of: God is great, and we are small. Lesson One: Obey God so he can bless; recognize that the blessing is all his doing, however, and be humbled by it.
Christ’s response to Simon’s humility was to call him to service. Simon first obeyed with his nets even when his common sense didn’t agree with the command, and then he responded to Christ’s blessing with humility. The result? A call to be a fisher of men! What a thrill! Simon and his fellow-fishermen James and John were all called to service. You won’t know what the Lord could call you to unless you have the humility to give him the praise he deserves and the faith to believe that he’s God and that he knows best. In verse 11 we read the response of these men to the call: “And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.” If we’re honest with ourselves, we perhaps may have been tempted to think, “Wow! God has really blessed my career endeavors. He could help me make a lot of money.” But these 3 fishermen instantly recognized the higher calling, the privilege of serving Christ, and “left everything.” Lesson Two: God wants to use humble servants who recognize the privilege of serving him and will trust and obey him.
In verse 16 we read that a short time later, after healing a leper and attracting large crowds, Jesus slipped away to a private, desolate place to pray. This was God the Son, and yet he felt the need to commune with God the Father. These prayers were not, “Bless and help me today, thank you for the food, Amen.” In fact, one chapter later we read, “In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God”(Luke 6:12). Matthew 14:23 recounts that after feeding thousands of people with 5 loaves and 2 fish, he sent the crowds away and, “went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.” In Mark 1:35, we read, “Very early in the morning, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” Other times Mark mentions Jesus going off alone to pray. The miracle-working Son of God, the Master who brought so many fish to Simon that the nets broke, prayed. Why do we, small and sinful people, not recognize the vital importance of prayer? Lesson Three: Pray.