Fishing for the Kingdom

I enjoy fishing. I am by no means a pro at it. I don’t know a whole lot about what it takes to be successful but I know enough to know that I enjoy it. I did not go much as a child but after being blessed with 2 boys, I figured I needed to start doing it so I can take them. And it has been a hit with them. The boys love it. I enjoy being outside, feeling the wind hit my face, or feeling the sunshine come down on me. It is fun to bait the boys’ hook and watch them try to cast. It is a great feeling for the boys to get me a worm or live minnow to put on the hook. I enjoy the sound of the line flying through the air as the hook and bait hit the water and make that "circle" in the water. I enjoy watching the boys jump up and down when we reel a fish in. I even enjoy that “rush” when I get a bite and get to reel one in. It makes me chuckle how every time we catch a fish, the first question that comes out of Aaron’s mouth is, “do we get to keep it or do we have to throw it back?” It is just an all-around fun time for us. There have been a few times when I have been without the boys, whether with my dad or brother-in-law who have or at one time had, boats of their own. It is just something about being out on the water that is peaceful and enjoyable.

Well, I digress. Let’s just say that fishing is fun. I am at a stage in my life where I cherish opportunities to spend time with the boys like this. And what a great opportunity fishing provides in this regard! But I have to say this also; while I enjoy fishing, I am not as “fired up” about cleaning the fish. Oh, I enjoy eating it. But the gutting and cleaning is just nasty, tedious, and inconvenient. I would rather someone else do that part. Doesn’t that sound selfish? The last time the boys and I went fishing, we had several bass and a huge catfish. I was pumped! In my mind, the boys and I had caught them and we were going to make it home just in time for a big football game coming on that night. We were going to watch the game, while my wife cleaned the fish and cooked it. Yep, I had it all planned out beautifully. It was a Saturday, so I had even gone over my Bible class and sermon material for the next morning before we went fishing so I wouldn’t have to fool with it that night. What a day! Go fishing, catch a bunch, come home and watch football while my wife labors in the kitchen cleaning and cooking the fish.

Well, there was a slight problem. I forgot to communicate my brilliant plan to Cody. And she was busy doing some things on her own and was unable to fulfill my unimpressive effort of prophecy. So the 1st half of the ballgame, I cleaned fish. And did it with much less enthusiasm and excitement than I had when catching the fish. In fact, it was with bitterness, resentment, and irritation. The football game was much more important to me. I did not want to make the time to clean these fish. I wanted someone else to do it.

Sometimes I wonder if this is similar to what happens in our efforts to catch people for Jesus. That is, we study with them, do our best to show them from the scriptures what they must do to become a Christian, we get them in the water and baptize them, and….then what? Leave them out to hang and dry? To fend for themselves….with no spiritual cleaning or guidance in how to maintain discipleship?

Friends, that evening was a tremendous lesson to me. But I think spiritually speaking, it can be a great lesson for all of us. We cannot afford to lose focus on what is most important AFTER catching souls. If we catch them, great! That is what we are supposed to do. But we have to clean them too.

All of us have seen the scenario played out, where a new brother or sister is added to the Lord’s body (Acts 2:37-47), and now we don’t even see them. They have stopped coming and now they have not been seen in weeks, months, perhaps even years. What did we do? Or what about those times when we have witnessed someone becoming a Christian, and they have not grown at all. I am convinced that if our focus is on converting, rather than merely convincing, we might have better results. In other words, Christianity is much more appealing when it is demonstrated rather than merely debated. If we want to bring people to Jesus, we must demonstrate our willingness to live it so that what we teach will match our actions. Our teaching the gospel cannot be effective if our hearts are not set on actually living the gospel too.

Perhaps it is beneficial for all of us to remember the scene in Luke 5:1-11, when Jesus taught His disciples that their focus was now to be on fishing for men, rather than for fish. We are told that they brought their boats to land, left everything, and followed Him. Truly following Him; that is His Word, His example, and His love for mankind is how we will gain opportunities to teach others about salvation. When Jesus “caught” these disciples, He spent a lot of time with them, continuing to guide and teach them about the kingdom. He knew they were unable to learn without His teaching and example. Let us remember that fishing for men involves so much more than merely verbally teaching people about the kingdom. While such is necessary, we must also convert them through our actions and examples so they will be convicted that kingdom living is the greatest lifestyle in the world. Otherwise, we just get them wet. I pray daily that I will be willing to bring my worldly and materialistic boat to land, leave everything, and follow Him.