by Larry Ondrejack

During lunch one day, I was listening to two fishermen talking about their favorite pastime–fishing the nearby ponds, lakes, streams and rivers. They were comparing notes about favorite fishing holes, the best bait, and their most recent catches.

When I was able to break into their conversation, I told them my grandson was coming for a visit and asked when was the best time to take him fishing. “When the fish are biting,” they answered with a smile. When I asked how I would know when the fish were biting, they smiled again and told me, “You’ll have to go fishing to find out.”

I’d Rather Be Fishing

I got the point. An avid fisherman does not wait for the best time. He

goes fishing every chance he gets. I once saw this bumper sticker on the back of an old pickup truck: “A bad day of fishing is better than a good day of anything else!” Recently, I saw this one on a business man’s car: “A bad day of fishing is better than a good day at the office.”

I know an executive who has a small plaque on his desk that says, “I’d

rather be fishing.” Over that simple message is the Christian symbol of a fish. This man is not a gifted evangelist, but he loves to do the

work of the evangelist every chance he gets. No matter what his other spiritual occupations may be, he also loves fishing for men. Shouldn’t

this be every Christian’s attitude?

Nothing compares with fishing for lost souls. Fishing, one of the Lord’s central images for saving souls, is a work to which He calls every one of His followers. Timothy was not a gifted evangelist when Paul encouraged him in his ministry. Yet he included evangelism, because doing “the work of the evangelist” is the duty of every believer (2 Tim. 4:5, esp. NIV and Amplified versions).

A fisher’s attitude is what the Lord wants us to develop regarding lost souls. That’s why he says, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Mt. 4:19; Mk. 1:17). When the Lord spoke these words to Peter, Andrew, James and John, they were already successful fishermen. Their response to His invitation to follow Him converted them from being mere fishermen to becoming fishers of men.

Learn from the Best

But how does the Lord develop in His disciples this desire to become fishers of men? A fisherman once told me, “You learn to fish by fishing, not by wishing.” Another said, “The best way to learn to fish

is by doing it, not talking or reading about it.” But the most valuable and important advice came from an expert who taught fly fishing at a local community college: “If you are really serious about learning to fish, go fishing with a master.”

And that’s exactly what the disciples did. The Lord said, “Follow Me and I will develop in you a love for fish (lost souls) that cannot be quenched, as well as a yearning to fish (evangelism) that cannot be satisfied. I will both teach you how to fish, and open your eyes to where the fish are.”

Consider what the disciples learned from the Lord’s encounter with the

woman at the well. Their mistaken notion was that their purpose in following Him was to take care of His needs. When they returned with food they acquired for Him, He surprised them with these words: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me.” Then He points to the men whom the woman led to the Lord, and tells them this is the food and the occupation He wants them to enjoy: “Look at the fields, for they are already white for the harvest” (Jn. 4:33, 35). The relationship between following Christ and becoming fishers for lost souls is unmistakably significant.

Give Up and Take Up

Another lesson the prospective fisher for men learns from the Lord is that following Him requires giving up something. Look what happened to

the first ones the Lord called. Peter and Andrew immediately “left their nets.” James and John “left the boat and their father, and followed Him” (Mt. 4:20-22). Without a second thought, Matthew gave up

his lucrative job as a tax collector when the Lord called him (Mt. 9:9; Mk. 2:14; Lk. 5:27). Learning to fish for men requires a willingness to give up occupations, responsibilities and even family ties (Mt. 8:22; Lk. 9:59). Fishing becomes the most important thing to

the fisher of men.

When the rich young ruler asked, “What must I do to gain eternal life?” the Lord answered, “Sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come follow Me” (Mt. 19:21).

Following the Lord requires a willingness to rid ourselves not only of

the possessions that encumber us, but more so the selfish attitude that keeps us hanging on to them. The rich young ruler “went away sorrowful for he had many possessions” which he could not part with (Mt. 19:22; Lk. 18:22). Freedom from encumbrances makes it easier for us to become fishers of men.

“Follow Me,” not only requires giving up something, but also taking up

something. The Lord tells the follower to “deny himself and take up his cross” (Mt. 16:24; Mk. 8:34; Lk. 9:23). Denial of self refers to giving up self interests, occupations and relationships. Taking up one’s cross refers to bearing that particular persecution which comes upon each one who identifies himself with the Savior. The writer of Hebrews wasn’t joking when he wrote that identification with Jesus means that we will suffer and bear His reproach (Heb. 13:13).

Learning to Fish

Peter had to learn this significant lesson as a part of his training to be a fisher of men. Before his willingness to follow was put to the

test, he boasted, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and

to death.” But under the real pressure of being identified with the scorned, rejected and persecuted Christ, he did exactly the opposite of his boast and exactly what the Lord predicted: “You will deny three

times that you know Me” (Lk. 22:33-34).

In the depression brought on by the shame of his denial, Peter could not even fish for fish successfully, let alone become a fisher of men.

But the Lord very lovingly showed Peter that success at fishing–whether for fish or men–depends on a willingness to follow in simple obedience. The Lord canceled Peter’s three denials by asking

him three times, “Do you love Me?” Peter’s honest and humble answers demonstrated that he was ready to fish for lost souls. And the Lord blessed him with a full net (Jn. 21:3-17).

With Net or Line?

In the Gospels, net fishing seems to stand out in most people’s minds.

When asked to name a net fisherman, Peter’s name is always mentioned first. While other disciples were fishermen, Peter is the one known as

“the fisherman,” most likely because of his great catches, and the fact that the Lord told him, “From now on you will catch men” (Lk. 5:5-10).

For example, at Pentecost, the Lord used Peter to add 3000 members to the Church with just one sermon (Acts 2:41). If more fish are caught with a net than a hook, is it always better to fish with a net? That depends on whether the Lord asks you to fish by the ocean or a stream,

for a lot of fish or just one fish.

Net fishers are judged by the number of fish they catch, while line fishers are rated by the size of the fish they catch. Would that make Andrew the most noted line fisher for men? He brought Peter to the Lord with these words: “We have found the Messiah” (Jn. 1:41), and in so doing caught the fish who became best known for catching fish!

Consider the loss had Andrew never gone line fishing for Peter. Consider the loss had Paul not brought the gospel to Europe by catching just two fish, Lydia and the jailer, from two different social classes in Phillipi. Consider the loss had Philip not delivered

the gospel to Ethiopia by catching one fish–in the desert of all places!

Consider the loss if those who claim to be followers of Christ do not respond to His call to become fishers of men wherever they live. We must ask ourselves this question: “Am I doing the work of an evangelist?” A negative answer means that something is missing in our service for the Lord.

What’s Important?

It is very important for every Christian to see the relationship God intends between following Him and serving Him as a fisher of men. It is also important for all believers to see that no matter what their gifts may be, they are all called to engage in some form of evangelistic work. Finally, it is encouraging to see that God values both net and line fishing.

If the Lord puts you on the seashore with a net in hand, fish. If He puts you next to a stream with a line in hand, fish. How you fish is not as important as doing so in obedience to the Master. Every fish caught is important to the Lord, because after they are caught, He makes them fishers of men. How? By following Him.

Related Articles:

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• Why do Ex-College students Leave Christianity?
• Effective Evangelism: 18 Obstacles
• WAS JESUS GOD?
• COUNTRY CLUB TO MISSION BASE: THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF THE PASTOR

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