The Fisherman Knows Best
One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing
pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the
sparkling blue surf. He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun
and the prospect of catching a fish.
About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach, trying to
relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman
sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was
fishing instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his
family.
"You aren't going to catch many fish that way," said the businessman
to the fisherman, "you should be working rather than lying on the
beach!"
The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, "And
what will my reward be?" "Well, you can get bigger nets and catch
more fish!" was the businessman's answer.
"And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman, still smiling.
The businessman replied, "You will make money and you'll be able to
buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!"
"And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman again. The
businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the
fisherman's questions. "You can buy a bigger boat, and hire some
people to work for you!" he said.
"And then what will my reward be?" repeated the fisherman. The
businessman was getting angry. "Don't you understand? You can build
up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your
employees catch fish for you!"
Once again the fisherman asked, "And then what will my reward be?"
The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, "Don't
you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to
work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days
sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. You won't have a care
in the world!"
The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "And what do you
think I'm doing right now?"
Contentment is a difficult attitude to learn, but so important. It's
easy to get caught in the world's trap of working harder and harder to
earn more and more, when we may well already have what can provide us
with the greatest possible happiness.
May you know true contentment today.
"Now Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing
into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. And
having food and clothing, with these we shall be content." (1 Timothy
6:6-8).
[ Author unknown -- from Alan Smith, Boone Church of Christ, Boone, NC (www.TFTD-online.com) ]
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