Why Toil?

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 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. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. (Luke 5:4-7).

    
     Have you ever worried, worked, stressed, been anxious, feared and toiled over a situation and it seemed the more you did, the worse the situation became?  We worry over finances, economy, jobs, children, crime, violence, inflation, and situations we have no control over. We become stressed and doubtful that they will ever improve. This is not God's plan for our lives.

     Jesus had told Simon to launch his net out into the deep for a draught (or haul, or catch). So He pretty much guaranteed Simon a successful catch if he would simply obey. However, Simon; like most of us today, began to whine and complain and offer excuses as to why that was not a good idea. (It's not a good idea to tell God His ideas aren't good ideas). Simon told Jesus that he had toiled all night and not caught one fish. Not one. He had fished all night, toiling, stressing, worrying, being anxious, over working, and becoming frustrated all for nothing. This sounds like a lot of us today. We wear ourselves out trying to get our goals accomplished the conventional way. We become mentally, physically, emotionally, psychologically and Spiritually exhausted trying to do things our way. Simon was a fisherman, he knew how to catch fish; yet he toiled all night to no avail.


 "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12).


      At the simple command of Jesus to cast the net in a different location, he caught so much fish the nets began to break.  Another ship was summoned to help and both ships almost sank because of so many fish. Simple obedience.
It is not God's will for us to toil and do things our way. It is His plan for us to listen to Him and obey Him. When we obey Him, we receive an over abundance of blessings. 

"...my cup runneth over." (Psalm 23:5).


"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6).


So, you can toil and do it your way with no joy, no peace, no hope and no results, or you  surrender all to God in obedience and be blessed!