Almost everyone is interested in success. If you have any doubt, look at the business section and self-help section of the local bookstore. Look at the best-selling books. Examine your mail for all the ads for success seminars.
Of all people in the world, Christians should want to succeed. What makes us different are our definition of success and our strategies to get there.
There is a story in Luke 5:1-11 of a group of fishermen who were tired and weary and who felt like failures until Jesus taught them a lesson. It was a lesson that sustained them the rest of their lives.
The fact is this: we all have limitations in our efforts of life and sometimes we fail. Peter, Andrew, James and John did all they knew to do and still had come up empty.
While God gave us brains to think with, sometimes we don’t have enough cleverness on our own to do the job.
It’s at times like this that we need to trust the word of Jesus even if it doesn’t make sense.
How do you think these fisherman felt, taking advice from a carpenter turned preacher? Didn’t they know fishing? It was their business.
Still, there was something in Jesus that caused them to trust him. He did not, of course, ask them to do something immoral, just something that did not seem to make sense.
There comes a time when we need to be willing to take risks. When Jesus asked them to go out, it was into the deep water.
Every great person in life has to take some risk in their life if they are every going to be successful.
Yes, there will be disappointment and fatigue. It’s at times like this that we cannot quit.
The fishermen were tired, but willing to do their part. They were discouraged, but willing to try again.
Success came. Their nets were full and overwhelming. As they worked together - success came. They had to share the burden. Since Jesus was the ultimate focus, it didn’t matter who got the credit.
I believe the scriptures are clear that God promises us more than we ask or imagine. The catch of fish was even greater than they would have expected. Our God delights in surprising us.
Be humble in your success. Peter did not take credit for the success. In fact, he humbled himself before God and came face to face with His own unworthiness.
It is interesting… After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter, in the throes of regret, decided to go back to fishing.
Peter no doubt felt he had failed. Jesus came to him again and did a similar miracle. He evidently never forgot the lesson. He went from that place to become a great fisher of men. He became a spiritual success, and so can you. You now know the secrets.
Think of how a bird must feel the first time it is pushed from the nest by its mother. The feeling must begin with fear, but as the bird stretches its wings and soars, it becomes exhilaration. Risk is a part of all achievement. A risk-free life is terribly dull.
Runners describe a feeling called the “runners high.” It only comes after the runner has pushed past his fatigue and kept on going when every cell of his body is yelling for him to stop. The feeling of exhaustion yields to the feeling of euphoria. It happens only if we are willing to keep on going when we feel like quitting.
I’ve always been inspired by this poem and I think that you will also.
Don't Quit
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is strange with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow,
Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
Edgar A. Guest
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