Fishers of Men

By: Pastor Doug Batchelor

When Karen and I decide that it’s time to get away and pursue some much-needed R & R, we often head for the enchanting big island of Hawaii.  Our friends Steve and Chris, who live near Kona, always open their beautiful home to us on such occasions.

Steve is a building contractor by trade, but his real passion is for fishing. He owns a little fishing boat and is always happy for an excuse to use it. Though I am a fish-free vegetarian, I do love the sun and water and have often joined Steve and his brother, Joe, while they pursue their favorite diversion. As a result of numerous fishing excursions on the ocean with Steve and his friends, I have come to better understand why Jesus said that if we follow Him, He would make us fishers of men. Here are a few similarities I have noticed between fishing and soul winning.

Fishing can be an addiction -- No matter how busy Steve is with multiple building projects and overdue deadlines, he always drops everything to go fishing. It’s as though his contracting work exists only to support his fishing habit. Every Christian should be a fish-a-holic. Whatever our earthly career, it should only be to support us during our soul-winning endeavors. Paul was a good example of this principle.  He made tents so he would have funds to save more souls.

Also, because fishing is an addiction, a real fisherman does not easily give up. If we were unsuccessful in one place, we went to another. Sometimes the catch was bigger than others, but Steve refused to return empty. He would continue trying until he caught something. If we were all addicted to fishing for men, we would not be easily discouraged.

“When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another.” Matthew 10:23.

A real fishing boat is a tool, not an ornament -- Steve’s boat has caught tons of fish, but it will never win a beauty contest. Twenty-five feet of fiberglass built around a large icebox for fish, it has a motor and one chair for the captain with a live bait chamber under it. Not even a primitive bathroom can be found. (This could be why Karen never chooses to join us!)  But he does invest in modern technology to catch fish – fish radar, hydraulic reels and sophisticated lures.

I believe this should be the pattern for our churches. Jesus would be pleased if all the programs and churches’ plans revolved around one paramount goal—to save people!

To catch fish, you must go where the fish are -- Sometimes we had to plow through the ocean for long hours to get to a spot where the fish were. There is a delicate balance between being in the world without the world being in us. We must guard against allowing our churches to become exclusive clubs that shut out the needy world in order to insulate ourselves. The world is hungering for truth, and to feed the people we must go where they are.

It was fairly common for sharks or barracuda to show up when we started to catch fish. Sometimes they would eat our prize just before we pulled it into the boat. Likewise, the devil always comes around just when people are about to join the church.

 “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil [one]. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” John 17:15, 16.

Sometimes to find fish you must look up -- I was always impressed by Steve’s uncanny ability to find the fish in a trackless ocean. One simple rule was to watch the birds. A flock of sea birds working the water meant there were schools of small fish, and where there were small fish there were usually bigger fish, too.  In the same way, when fishing for men we will often need to look up and pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit to find the hungry and receptive souls.

“The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7.

Fish are attracted to light -- For some reason, we always caught the most fish at night. I know how Peter felt when he said, “We fished all night.” However, we always caught plenty. 

After sundown, we would drop a waterproof light off the back of the boat and down into the sea. In the clear water below, we could see thousands of creatures—big and small—swarming around our light. One night we accidentally unplugged the light. By the time we discovered the problem and plugged the cord back in, all the fish had gone to a neighboring boat where the light was still burning. If our light is shining, we will attract souls.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.

If fishermen work together, they catch more fish -- On one of our trips a few years back, we hooked a 300-pound marlin. There were four of us on the boat that day, and we landed that trophy only by all of us working together in harmony. Steve steered the boat, Jerry pulled the line and kept it out of the motor, and Joe kept the incoming sharks away and helped me work the reel. It took all four of us to lift the monster into the boat, and we all rejoiced together on our way to shore!

“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” 1 Corinthians 3:6.

We all know that fishermen are notorious for telling colorful (and often exaggerated) stories of their adventures and exploits.   If they do finally catch a trophy fish, there’s a good chance that it will be stuffed and mounted on a prominent wall somewhere for all to see. Then that “humble” fisherman will quiver with excitement to tell the story to any warm body that passes by. How much better will it be for the fishers of men when, through the ceaseless ages, they, with beaming faces, can behold their living trophies walking on golden streets.

“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:3.

Would to God that every church was a fishing machine, with each member using his or her distinct gifts in concert to catch souls for Christ’s kingdom.