Fishless Fishermen
Adapted from an article by John Drescher in the Cedine Report
Hi, friends.... I
read this great little story from a book my friend David Harrison wrote.... He
used it in his book called God's Master Plan to Reach Every Creature The E=MC2
of Missions...Since I don't have a scanner I had to retype this whole thing, but
I don't mind. Hopefully it will be a challenging word to your heart and soul....
Then it will be all worth my time in typing this thing up...God Bless! Praying
for You!!
The Parable of the Fishless Fishermen
Adapted from an article by John Drescher in the Cedine Report
Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen, and
lo, the lakes and streams around them were teeming with hungry fish.
Now week after week, month after month, and year after year these who called
themselves fishermen met in the meeting house at least once a week and talked
about fishing, about their call to fish, and how they might go about fishing. In
their meetings they declared that fishing should be the primary task of all
fishermen.
At times these who called themselves fishermen had special meetings called
"Fishermen's Campaigns". They sponsored costly nationwide congresses to discuss
fishing, to hear about new fishing equipment, new calls, and whether any new
fish bait had been discovered. They built fine and expensive buildings called
"Fishermen's Headquarters." Special speakers were sent out to lecture in
fishing. The plea was that everyone should be a fisherman. One thing they didn't
do, however; THEY DIDN'T FISH.
Large and elaborate training centers were built for the purpose of teaching
fishermen how to fish. Over the years courses were offered on the needs of fish,
the nature of fish, where to find fish, the psychological reaction of fish and
how to approach and feed fish. Those who taught had Doctorates of Fishology.
After years of tedious training at these centers many graduated and were given
fishing licenses. But the teachers and the students and the graduates DID NOT
FISH; they only talked and learned about fishing.
Some who called themselves fishermen had great visions and the courage to speak
about sending fishermen to far away places where the waters abounded with many,
many fish of different colors. They organized a board and hired a staff and
appointed committees and held meetings. But the staff and committee members DID
NOT FISH.
Some spent much study and travel to learn the history of fishing and to see
faraway places where the Founding Fishers did great fishing in centuries past.
Printing houses were built to publish information about former fishermen and how
they did it.
Some said they wanted to fish but that they felt called to furnish fishing
equipment and fishing information for fishermen.
After one stirring meeting on "The Urgency of Fishing" one young fellow left the
meeting and actually went fishing. The next day he reported that he had caught
two outstanding fish. He was honored for his excellent catch and was scheduled
to visit as many big meetings as possible to tell others how he did it. So he
QUIT FISHING in order to have time to tell others about his experience as a
fisherman. He was placed on the Fishermen's General Board as a person with
considerable experience.
Now it's true that many of the fishermen sacrificed and put up with considerable
difficulties. Some lived near the water and bore the smell of dead fish
everyday. They received the ridicule of some who made fun of their fishermen's
clubs, and the fact that they claimed to be fishermen, BUT DIDN'T FISH. Imagine
how hurt some were when one day someone actually suggested that those who didn't
catch fish were not really fishermen.
Could it be true? Is a person really a fisherman if week after week, month after
month, and year after year he never catches fish, or DOESN'T EVEN GO FISHING?
Jesus said, "Follow me, and I will make you to become fishers of men."
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Date this page was last updated: 01/26/2003