TOILING STARTS WHEN GOD IS NOT INVOLVED
“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 (KJV)
In Luke chapter 5, we see the account of Peter who toiled all night and caught nothing. Peter depended on his expertise and it failed him until Jesus came along. Expertise is good but when the chips are down, it will disappoint. Your expertise is only reliable when it is in partnership with God. Peter went fishing at the right time, he had the right skills and tools. He laboured, which showed that he wasn’t a lazy person. He also went with his friends who were equally skilled and yet caught nothing. You see toiling starts when you do anything without God. When people begin to undertake a project and God is not involved, they end up toiling. Skills are good, professionalism is highly encouraged, but no matter what you do, never leave God out of the equation or make Him second fiddle. Your expertise without Him is nothing and it will fail.
Peter having toiled all night and caught nothing became frustrated and in the morning he packed up to go. While he was washing his net, Jesus saw him and rather than throw a pity-party with him, made a demand on him. Jesus asked for his boat to preach. Now put on your imagination, if you were Peter, what would you have done? The easiest thing is to snap at Jesus in anger and chase him away, remember, Peter did not know who he was. But thank God for Peter, though frustrated with his all night toiling, he surrendered his boat and that singular act brought him a net-breaking miracle.
This is also where many people miss it, when God begins to make a demand on you, don’t think He needs anything, realise that it is for your good. I have found out that God does not need anything from me but I need everything from Him. When Jesus gets into your boat, toiling ends and harvest begins.
Further Reading: Luke 5:1-7
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Hosea 12-14; Evening- Revelation 4
