The Wise or Lazy Fisherman?
A friend of mine sent me this little story. Although I think that our nights could be spent more wisely than sipping wine (perhaps Holy Spirit new wine), I think the story has an interesting truth to it. How much of our striving to succeed is a waste of precious time? Of course we should "with quietness […] work, and eat [our] own bread" but are we reverting back to being under the curse when we strive to "get ahead" (2 Thes 3:12)?
"In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, till you return to the ground" (Gen 3:19)
I do believe in a good hard days work, but I think we need to prioritize by the Spirit and His Word. I'm pretty sure that God doesn't want us putting work at the top of our priority list. How much time do we set aside to be with God "walking in the garden in the cool of the day" (Gen 3:8).
Have a read and let me know your thoughts:
After a health scare, a wealthy but aging business man was ordered by
his doctor to spend some time on a work free vacation in Mexico.
While on his holiday, he spent a lot of time on the beaches of a small
coastal fishing town, pondering his work and his life.
He often watched a particular curious fisherman who would return his
boat to the dock after fishing for only a few hours per day managing to
bring home but a tiny catch.
Puzzled after seeing this for a number of consecutive days, he decided
to ask the fisherman what was going on?
“Excuse me Sir” He asked, “I couldn’t help but wonder why it is that you
only fish such a short time each day?”
“I only catch enough so that I can live day to day and feed me and my
family”, The fisherman casually replied.
“But what do you do with the rest of your day?” The business man questioned.
“I relax with my wife during the day, we take siestas in the afternoon,
and I play guitar and drink wine with my amigos in the evening.
The Harvard business graduate smiled “Well I’ve got some great news for
you!” “Do you realize that if you spent even a little more time out
fishing each day, you could easily double the size of your catch and in
turn, your weekly profits!”
“And then what?” the fisherman asked?
“Then you could use that extra profit to invest in another fishing boat
and hire another fisherman to expand your business!”
“And then what?”
“Well then you could gradually build a whole fleet of successful boats.
After this you’d probably have to move to Mexico City where there is
more opportunity and you could keep your fleet expanding while selling
in a market where there is more demand”
“And then what?” The fisherman asked again.
“And then the possibilities are endless! You could develop an entire
fisheries company and take over your own production. You would probably
need to move your family to New York and establish a base there where
you could manage the operations while the divisions below you handled
the rest!”
“And then what?”, the fisherman persisted.
“Well then is the best part! You could float shares in your company and
make $100 million dollars in one day! Imagine that!”
“And then what?”
“And then what?!” The business man exclaimed?! “Then you could retire
with your family to a small coastal fishing town in Mexico, where you
could fish all day, take siestas with your wife in the afternoon, and
play guitar and sip wine with your amigos all evening!”
Interesting huh?
March 1st, 2008 at 5:28 pm
it makes me wonder why i strive to even make a living some days, it is not even the money that i am concerned with but that i would be able to have time with God friends and family but still be able to be generous… It’s a confusing thing for me.
March 2nd, 2008 at 10:52 am
To trade a big treadmill for a smaller one would be of wisdom. Yet, both men from this adventure are living largely in self-interest. Jesus of Nazareth has a way with fishing that will upset or moor our boats. Whether in Mexico or en el norte, to follow Him unpacks a new economic that fills nets (to the breaking point, or nearly so). “Interesting huh?”
March 2nd, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Perspective is interesting.
I spent a lot of time working in the yard today on my day off (Sunday). Cutting down down trees, doing the edges, some renovation/ landscapping stuff. As I was working I was thinking about God and the Word (the way you can when it’s quiet and your work dosen’t require extensive brain power).
I was thinking how Adams punishment for disobeying God was hard labour and having to sweat for his food then eventual die. When Jesus came some thousands of years later He taught about the Kingdom of God using parables that related to working the land, farming and such. God in his wisdom prescribed a punishment that had a lesson in it when Jesus becomes the focus. Hard work somehow can teach us more about God if He is the reason we do it.
The general aim of life according to television and advertising is pleasure and having things that enhance our pleasure. The general motivation of society is to work to make money so you can stop working and “enjoy life”. I don’t want happiness or the contentment of the world. I want Jesus. If He is at the forefront, I have gained more than the world can offer me.
Let Christ be our motivation for work and we will neither be lazy, pleasure seekers or slaves to the false gods of advertising and success. We will be perfect creations indebted to Christ who commands us to love.
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:58 am
God calls us to Rest. This rest doesn’t mean inactivity, but a resting from our soulish works…no longer living by our own wits and labor but by dependence on the Spirit. The Spirit may call one to work 20 hours a week and another 40 and yet another He may ask to quit his work altogether in order that He may teach him to see that God will truly provide his needs. The work He ultimately calls us to is to “Labor to enter this Rest.”
March 12th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Response to Marshall,
You’re right, they are both into self interest, but, I was using the story metaphorically, to show how people often strive in vanity. Living a simple life by loving God and loving those who He has put before us is to be pursued rather than riches and success.
To James,
Well said. By the way, I was not dissing hard work, rather over work and striving for the sake of gain.
To Kate,
Too right, we can rest in the Lord while we work hard. Again, I’m not against hard work, but I’m not into striving according to this wrlds system. I also beleive we should prioritise biblically, putting time with the Lord and those we love before striving to succeed…
March 12th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
To Gigi,
I wouldn’t bother striving if I were you. Just work hard in the job God has called you to, putting the Kingdom as the highest priority.
April 9th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Cool!