Finding the Faith to Put God First and Trusting He Will Provide

So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Luke 5:11 NIV

If He asks you to leave a sinking boat of fish, as the disciples did, would you not just as quick follow Him?

The disciples had been fishing all night and had not caught anything. Yet, when Jesus said to drop the nets into the deep water, they did. They caught such a large haul of fish that the nets began to break and the boats began to sink (Luke 5:1-11 ESV).

It’s amazing that the disciples didn’t get side lined by the dopamine rush of the haul — so engrossed with their catch that they were compelled to go for another big haul. Common sense would have told me to keep fishing while the fishing was good.

Instead, these fishermen were awestruck with the One who provided an abundance of fish. They knew this provision wasn’t happenstance. This was a miracle of God proportion. The provision turned their focus away from the provision and to the provider, Jesus.

No wonder they so readily “. . . left everything and followed Him” (Luke 5:11 NIV). They saw how Jesus provided what they could not achieve on their own. Fishing was their livelihood. If they were farmers, perhaps He would have increased their harvest. If they were carpenters, He could have provided a forest of the finest wood. Jesus graciously showed them His ability to provide for their needs before He asked them to follow Him.

From now on they would “fish for men.” They would join Jesus in ministry and follow Him wherever He went, as His disciples. They would reach out to people and minister to them, for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus would provide their needs. They saw that He could . . . and He did. They chose to be about His business and He took care of their business. Literally.

“Leaving everything” doesn’t necessarily mean physically leaving a job, as the disciples did. It could be leaving old ways of doing things and infusing routines and relationships with the message and love of Christ. He typically works through people right where they are. When we keep Him first in the every day, we can rest assured, our needs will be provided.

Scripture assures us, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need” (Luke 12:31 NLT).

Lord, help us to be about following You and prioritizing Your Kingdom work. Show us where and how to spread Your message, furthering the hope of Christ in our every day lives. You have shown us that You will abundantly provide our needs, time and time again. Give us the faith to believe and follow. In Jesus' name, Amen.