Make time for life

Here’s a story I read and my thoughts on it that I thought I’d submit for WFTD.

The fisherman returns home in his pirogue and is met by a foreign expert serving in this developing country. The expert asks the fisherman why he is back so early. He replies that he could have stayed out longer but that he had caught enough to care for his family.

“And now, what do you do with all your time anyway?” the expert asks.

The fisherman responds: “Well, I do a little fishing. I play with my children. We all have a siesta when it gets hot. In the evening, we have supper together. Later, I get together with my friends for some music, and so on.”

The expert interrupts: “Look, I have a university degree and have studied these matters. I want to help you. You should stay out fishing longer. You would earn more and soon be able to purchase a bigger boat than this pirogue. With a bigger boat, you would earn still more and soon be able to build up a fleet of trawlers.”

“And then?” the fisherman inquires.

“Then, instead of selling fish through a middleman, you could negotiate directly with the factory or even start your own fish-processing plant.
You would be able to leave your village and move to Cotonou, or Paris, or New York and run the whole thing from there. You could even consider putting your business on the stock market and earn millions.”

“How long would that all take?” the fisherman asks.

“Perhaps 15 to 20 years,” the expert answers.

“And then?” the fisherman continues.

“That is when life gets interesting,” the expert explains. “Then you could retire. You could move away from the hustle and bustle of it all to some remote village.”

“And what then?” asks the fisherman.

“Then you have time to do a little fishing, play with your children, have a siesta when it gets hot, have supper with the family, and get together with friends for some music.”

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Where are we storing up riches? Are we putting our trust in a world that God is going to do away with? Are we sacrificing God and family to get ahead?

There is nothing wrong with working hard at what you do. In fact, it is something God wants from us. (Eccl. 9:10) But it is much more important for Christians to work hard to store up riches in heaven.

“So it goes with the man that lays up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God. Sell the things belonging to you and give gifts of mercy. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, a never-failing treasure in the heavens, where a thief does not get near nor moth consumes.” Luke 12:21, 33

Of course, he is not saying here to quit our jobs. Providing for your family is very important. “Certainly if anyone does not provide for those who are his own, and especially for those who are members of his household, he has disowned the faith and is worse than a person without faith.” – 1 Tim. 5:8

I find the key is balance. “So keep strict watch that how you walk is not as unwise but as wise persons, buying out the opportune time for yourselves, because the days are wicked.” – Eph 5:15,16.

We have to buy out the time, so to speak, from our busy schedules for spiritual matters. Doing so, we can be assured we will reap rewards and riches in the heavens, where God resides, that will not wear out like the ones on earth do, and will hold their value indefinitely.



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