Fishing

I have been reading the book of Job and pondering what it means to need only Jesus. It is a simple thing to state these words. We even have an old hymn that goes like this...

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.

This sounds good on paper, but if we were placed in Job's shoes for half a day would we be so quick to sing this song earnestly?
One of my favorite authors, Joseph Stowell, devotes an entire book to this concept, entitled Simply Jesus and You. As followers of Christ we are aware of and deeply grateful for the fact that Jesus cancels hell and guarantees heaven through His death on the cross. We are aware that He desires fellowship and intimacy with us. He walked and talked on this earth, so that He could walk and talk with us, his beloved children. Yet if we have walked with Jesus for any amount of time we most likely already know these things.

Stowell says, sadly we tend to forget that Jesus is all we need. We are quick to assume we need Jesus AND a good job. Jesus AND a spouse. Jesus AND a nice wardrobe or a new car. Jesus and .....

Stowell preached a sermon at my church on Sunday, where he gave the account of Jesus telling the disciples to cast their nets on the other side of the boat, where they promptly caught more fish than they could've imagined. They came to shore where Jesus questioned Peter if he loved Jesus more "than these," referring to the fish. Peter was a fisherman by trade, so I imagine feeling a bit of pressure to deny his beloved profession, answered that he did indeed love Jesus more than the fish. Jesus instructed Peter to follow Him and become a fisher of men.

I was thinking about what would signify the "fish" in my life. What are the things that I hold so dearly to that if Jesus audibly asked me to give it/them up how would I respond? Of course I would verbally agree but would I have a willing heart? Would I think, of course I need Jesus, but I REALLY need Jesus AND a clean house? I need Jesus AND the job I love? Jesus AND cute clothes? Or would I easily assume the heart of Jesus and leave my "earthly fish" behind and fish after that which is eternal? Would I be willing to fish after the hearts of men and women? Then I got to thinking this isn't a hypothetical situation, it is one we must face every day. Every minute really.

Joseph Stowell gave this analogy- If Jesus came knocking on our door would he find us inside counting our fish? Hanging tightly to our temporary possessions? Or would He not find us at home because we are so greatly concerned for the things His heart beats for, that we only have time for things that are of eternal value? For what is this earth in the grand scheme of eternity? And of all the things I could accumulate on this earth, what can I bring throught the gates of heaven? Is there a status I can achieve on earth that would place me closer to the feet of Jesus in Heaven? Of course not, I cannot fathom the idea that Jesus loved us so much he came to this earth to "fish" for our souls and only asks in return that we love Him by fishing for others as well. I hope if He was to knock at my house, He would find a sign on my door that says, 'Gone Fishin.''