Working To Acquire More? We'll Never Acquire Enough – Bible study

The story is told of a rich industrialist who was disturbed to find a fisherman reclining lazily on the deck of his boat. Why arent you out there fishing? he asked.

Because Ive caught enough fish for today, said the fisherman.

Why dont you catch more fish than you need? the rich man asked.

What would I do with them?

You could earn more money, came the impatient reply, and buy a better boat so you could go deeper and catch more fish. You could purchase nylon nets, catch even more fish, and make more money. Soon youd have a fleet of boats and be rich like me.

The fisherman asked, Then what would I do?

You could sit down and enjoy life, said the industrialist.

What do you think Im doing now? the fisherman replied as he looked peacefully out to the sea.

The above story illustrates an important truth. If we live only to accumulate material wealth, well never acquire enough (Ecclesiastes 1:8; Proverbs 27:20). In fact, well more than likely frantically work more and more and more until we finally collapse (or worse, have a stroke or heart attack).

Have we been working 70 or more hours a week? Are we refusing to take vacations? Beloved, our life is worth far more than any possessions we might accumulate (Matthew 16:24-26; cf. Luke 12:13-21).

Rather, lets learn to trust more fully in the God who has richly given us “all things to enjoy” (Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 6:24-33; 1 Timothy 6:17).