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. Luke 5:5
If your car was broken down, would you ask the local barber for advice on how to fix it? Or supposing you needed to mend a hole in your roof, would you go to the jewellery store and ask the watchmaker how to fix the shingles? Maybe that’s what Simon Peter was thinking when Jesus told him to let down his net for a draught. If Peter, a fisherman who knew that water well and knew when was the best time to try to catch fish, had not succeeded, why should he take the advice of a carpenter? After all, Peter was the expert. What a surprise Peter had! He was immediately convinced that the One who directed him to let down the net was much more than a carpenter. It should be the same with us… the Lord has the best advice and guidance for us when it comes to our work.
Peter and Andrew had spent a pointless night fishing. They remind us of our unsaved days… lots of work in the darkness and nothing to show for it. Empty hands to offer God. But when we were saved, God enabled us to serve Him, our hands became filled with opportunities to amount to more than the nothingness of our own efforts.
Just as Peter could not claim the credit for the success of the fishing expedition, so too we need to realize that any success we have in our work is all of the Lord. Obedience is a key, even if we do so in unbelief. Peter agreed to let down the net at the word of the Lord. Blessing resulted. Abundance resulted.
An abundant life lies in doing what Jesus tells us to do. The abundance comes from Him, not from us. But it comes to us.. it comes today if we let it. -Jim MacIntosh