TOILING STARTS WHEN GOD IS NOT INVOLVED
By Bishop Mike Okonkwo
Wednesday 20th November 2024
“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.” Luke 5:5 (KJV)
In Luke chapter 5, we see the account of Peter, who toiled all night and caught nothing. This is an indication that your expertise can fail. Expertise is good, but it has a margin for failure.
Therefore, putting your trust in your expertise is unwise. Peter went to fish at the right time. He had the right skills in fishing. Fishing was his life all this while. He laboured! He wasn’t a lazy person. He also went with the right tools and with the right partners and yet caught nothing.
You see, toiling starts when you do anything without God. When people begin to undertake a project, and God is not involved, they will end up toiling. That is where a lot of believers are.
When you begin to toil and struggle, find out first if God is there. Peter toiled all night and caught nothing. In the morning, he got frustrated and was washing his net. And the God of all flesh saw him. You see, God understands! God is not oblivious to your situation. He sees you! He knows you in the minutest detail. He knows the tears you have shed, and He knows the pain and agony you are going through. Even when He is silent, He is still working. He said He will make all things beautiful in His time. He is working behind the scenes! He doesn’t abandon His one!
Jesus reached out to Peter and said to him, Peter, can I borrow your boat to preach? You see, that is where many people miss it when God begins to make a demand on us. Do you think He needs anything? God needs nothing! He owns everything! So, when He makes a demand on you, it is for your good. That is one of the things I have learned in my many years of ministry. I have found out that this God does not need anything from me. But I need everything from Him.
Further Reading: Luke 5:1-7
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Ezekiel 14-15; Evening- James 2