Articles From Our Bulletins
Fishing (for Men)
About this time each year, as the trees and flowers show their brilliant colors and the grass begins to need regular attention, the fish start biting again. As they (mainly bass) begin to prepare their nests and their bodies for this year’s “crop,” their appetites and protective aggression drive them to bite just about anything that swims into their vicinity. Though they feed throughout the year, the warm and sunny days of Spring shift their activity into overdrive. For fishermen/women, it’s time to spool on fresh line, restock the tackle, and clean and oil the reels!
And each year, since its my only “reel” hobby, the anticipation and these activities remind me of the Lord’s invitation to Peter and Andrew, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men,” Matthew 4:19. In total, at least four of the Lord’s closest disciples, who became His apostles, were fishermen by trade. The brothers James and John were also fishermen, and may have even been in business with Peter and Andrew. Thus, one-quarter of those specifically chosen by the Lord to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15) were fishermen. The Lord fashioned them into fishers of men.
Obviously, one doesn’t have to be an experienced fisherman to “preach the word,” but it doesn’t hurt either. You see, each year as I get ready to and begin spending some time “wetting a line” or three, I realize more and more of the similarities and applications that exist between fishing for fish and fishing for men. Though I realize that Jesus’ disciples “fished” very differently than I- they used nets and I rods and reels, and I’ve talked and written previously on the subject, here are some of this year’s comparative lessons:
1. Timing is important. When my anticipation got the best of me, I “jumped the gun” a bit and started fishing early. Nothing. It didn’t seem to matter what type or color of bait I threw, they weren’t biting. It simply wasn’t “time.” One Friday evening, I fished hard for a couple of hours with nothing to show for it. But, the very next day, I caught twelve. Fishing for men is sometimes like that too. Repeated efforts of urging, pleading, educating, and exhorting someone with the gospel may fall on “deaf” ears for a long time, until something “clicks.” Perhaps they’ve experienced some tragedy in their family or close to them. Or maybe some significant event has occurred- they’ve gotten married, had their first child, or some other experience has humbled or caused them to be more thoughtful, open, and receptive. Spiritually, we need to understand the importance of timing in and with our efforts. Jesus did. Note His words to the twelve, though it was in a different context, in John 16:12, “I have many more things to say to you, but cannot bear them now.” Timing matters. Their ability to understand and process what no doubt needed to be said required significant events to unfold that would subsequently allow them to properly hear and comprehend His message and instructions. Thus, we need learn the lesson of proper timing. “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were with salt, so that you may know how to respond to each person.” In our efforts to teach others, not only is the how important, but so is the when.
2. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. This may sound contradictory to the previous point, but it isn’t for a very simple reason. I did not know, nor could I really discern the difference between the Friday evening when I caught zero fish and the next day when I caught twelve. There were no obvious distinctions. So, I fished the same places, with the same lures, and with the same methods both days. One day was a bust, the other successful. Likewise, we cannot always know how or why a person will react from one day to the next. While I’m not suggesting a daily presentation to a potential convert, I am proposing that we are often unaware of what all is going on their lives from day to day or month to month. Don’t give up. I often make multiple “casts” to the same spot with the same bait in the same way before success occurs… and rarely do I know what caused the change from “not interested” to “receptive.” While there is no reason to continue to “fish” in waters that contain no or absolutely uninterested fish (cf. Matthew 7:6; 10:14), there is value in persistence and constancy. I knew a man who sat in the pew every week for twenty years before it finally “clicked” and he obeyed the gospel. His wife didn’t give up. The preacher didn’t give up. And thankfully, he didn’t give up either!
3. Cast where don’t think there are “fish” too. The little neighborhood retention pond behind our house is only about three acres, fairly shallow (only about 4 ft. at its deepest), and has practically no “cover” (underwater structure to hold fish). From experience, I’ve nonetheless learned which “spots” typically hold fish. So every time I go out, I hit those spots repeatedly. However, this does not keep me from casting to all points in between! There is such a thing as becoming “too targeted” in our efforts to reach the lost. Just because we think a certain location or type of person may be productive doesn’t mean that other areas or types should be neglected. To switch metaphors, remember that the Master Sower sowed seed “beside the road,” “upon the rocky places,” and even “among the thorns,” as well as on “the good soil,” Matthew 13:3-8. Always remember that we have neither the right nor the privilege of determining on which “soil” to sow, or in which “waters” to fish! All souls matter, and should be afforded the opportunity to hear and believe, Romans 10:14.
Certainly, we are not all teachers/preachers in the same ways as were the twelve men that Jesus chose to be His disciples and apostles. Nonetheless, there are lessons that can be learned and applied from their backgrounds, their interaction with the Savior, and how He used them and their experiences to benefit of the Kingdom. Would that we all likewise benefit the Cause to the glory of God. So, may the Lord bless your efforts to that end, and let’s all go fishing (for men at least)! (Philip C. Strong; Southport Church of Christ; 7202 Madison Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46227; online at southportcofc.org; email to mrpcstrong@hotmail.com)
- Fishing_for_Men.pdf (76.06 kB)
