Gone Fishin Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net

into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him. ~ Mark 1:16-20

This account of Jesus calling Simon (Peter) and Andrew, and James and John to be His disciples gives us an object lesson on ministry and mindset. First, we notice that both pairs of brothers were fishermen when Jesus called them to follow Him and become <i>fishers of men</i>. Since fishermen use nets to catch fish in the sea, Jesus would equip His disciples with the Gospel to catch men in the world. But fishermen not only cast their nets, as Simon and Andrew were doing, they also have to spend time preparing their nets, as were James and John. Similarly, the Church has two main ministries under which all its activities fall: Evangelism and Discipleship. Evangelism is concerned with casting the Gospel net far and wide so that God can fill it with new Believers. Discipleship, on the other hand, is about preparing the Gospel, teaching it to Believers so that it can be delivered to the world. Every Christian is expected to be busy at work daily either casting nets as they share the word with non-believers, or preparing the Gospel to be cast out as they teach and encourage believers about God. Second, we see that all four fishermen responded immediately to Jesus call; leaving their nets behind to join His ministry. It is important to understand that this was not the first time they had heard of Jesus. The Gospel of John (John 1:35-42) tells us that Andrew was already a disciple of John the Baptist when he and another of John the Baptists disciples approached Jesus to learn about His ministry. After his experience with Jesus, he went and told his brother Simon that he had found the Messiah. We also know that the four men were business partners (Luke 5:10), therefore it is quite likely that James and John were recruited by Simon and Andrew, or that they too were disciples of John the Baptist passed on to Jesus. Thus, by the time Jesus called them, they already knew who He was; and had developed a mindset for service: They were waiting on His call! Similarly, many Believers have already spent time journeying with Jesus, learning about Him in church, in Bible studies, Christian literature/media and (hopefully) their own personal study of His Word. Hence, the question we must ask is, When Jesus calls you/me into ministry (any kind of ministry; Romans 12:4-8), what will be our response? Will we immediately make the step of faith? Or will we hold back (making the usual excuses)? When Jesus makes the call, do we have our minds set for service?

We must also remember that the disciples didnt have perfect faith, even <b>after</b> Jesus death AND resurrection some still doubted (Matthew 28:17). BUT they all made the step of faith to follow Him, to join His ministry. Just like them, we dont have to wait until our faith is big and/or perfect; if we do, then we will NEVER go. We will always just be sitting on the sidelines. Yes, we <i>believe</i> in Jesus, but we never put it into practice; we never exercise that <i>faith</i>. Moreover, we must be very careful when we choose to sit on the sidelines of Christianity, because Scripture tells us plainly that there is no such thing as faith without action:

<blockquote>Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:17, 18b, 26 </blockquote>

Therefore, if we know who Jesus is, if we have some idea of His plan, then let us no longer sit back. Let us rise to the challenge; let us put fears, doubts and distractions aside; and join Him, as He prepares us to carry on His ministry, in whatever way He chooses.

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. ~ Romans 12:6-8

And he *Jesus+ gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ ~ Ephesians 4:11-12

Overcoming Fear (the Famine of Faith)

And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he *Elisha+ said, Give unto the people, that they may eat. ...So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD. ~ 2 Kings 4:42-44

There was a famine in the land of Israel (there was a dearth in the land 2 Kings 4:38) and Elisha and the prophets with him didnt have much to eat. One day a man from Bal-Shalisha gave to them twenty loaves of bread made from the firstfruits of his crop, along with some corn (v. 42). In the time of Elisha, Gilgal, like the rest of Israel (the northern Kingdom), was soaked in idolatry. From Jeroboam onward, all their kings had led the people into idol worship, with only a remnant remaining faithful to God. The man from Bal-Shalisha was one of the faithful few.

As servant of God, the man from Bal-Shalisha remembered that the firstfruits of his increase belonged to God.

The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. ~ Exodus 23:19

Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase ~ Proverbs 3:9

However, to honor God, the man from Bal-Shalisha had to overcome food/financial insecurity.

Bal-Shalisha was known for its fertility, but in a time of famine food would have been scarce there too. Farming crops do not mature all at once, and so firstfruits were the earliest gathered fruits from the harvest. To set aside a portion of ones harvest during a time of famine was a real challenge: a true act of faith. There was no guarantee of a harvest the following year. From a human standpoint, it would be entirely reasonable to store up as much as possible for an uncertain future. However, it is clear that the man from Bal-Shalisha considered honoring God more important than hoarding goods.

Consider this, if we cant see into the future shouldnt we put our trust into One who can? As we too face financial insecurity in our lives will we accept the challenge to Honor God with our increase? Or, will we hoard away the blessings that God has bestowed on us? Like the man from Bal-Shalisha, let us find our security in faith in God instead of goods; let us not allow lack of goods to become lack of faith. Let us not allow a famine of food/funds become a famine of faith. God is able to sustain us through any trial that comes our way, if we trust in Him.

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. ~ Psalm 55:22

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. ~ Psalm 37:25