From toil to abundance
“He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.”
John 21:5-6 NIV
Peter and his team have been fishing the entire night, and didn’t catch any fish. The entire night’s work yielded nothing, and that’s the definition of toil; working hard and having nothing to show for it.
I can imagine the frustration they had, but they kept on doing it, hoping to catch something. They had done it before, as this was their profession, they did it on the regular and were good at it.
Many of us are spending our time working hard daily but we have nothing to show for it. Yet we keep on working as hard, if not harder, hoping something better, good rewards, will eventually come.
It was at dawn, and Peter hadn’t caught anything. But when God shows up, toil has to yield. He prepares breakfast in he presence of my enemies. He blesses me with more than I need. Toil may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning to those in Christ.
‘On the right side of the boat’ is a place where success is, where toil is non-existence, and it was not too far from where they were. But they wouldn’t have known had they not been told by the Lord. May toil end in our life today as we listen to and obey His instructions. May He reveal the place of abundance and our breakthrough to us as we trust in Him wholeheartedly.
Peter and his company had a net-breaking cash, they had caught so much fish than they had needed nor expected. They followed His instructions even before they knew it was the Lord who instructed. How desperate are you today to follow His instructions? Do you have to toil the whole night before you are humble enough to follow His instructions?
Obedience of a word and instruction from the Holy One can move us from toil to abundance, from struggle to success. When we insist on doing things our own way, we are likely to do them in vain. At the end of your life, how would you answer these questions:
Haven’t you any fish?
What did you do during your lifetime?
What have you achieved whilst alive?
Didn’t you know God’s instructions for your success? Did you live the purpose for which you were created?
“Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.” John 21:12 NIV
May the ‘right side of the boat’ be revealed to you today. May toil end and may you have a breakfast with the Holy One in celebration for your success and obedience to His instructions. God bless.
Hunger
