Giving Our Best

I remember reading a story, probably not a true story, about a project manager. He had served a boss for pretty much all his life, building house after house. He finally got to the point in life where he was going to retire. His boss asked him if he could build one more house. The manager thought to himself, "I don’t have that much saved up for retirement and this house is valued pretty highly". He decided that he was going to cut corners and pocket the difference. He used inferior windows, doors, floor boards, etc. He finally finished the job and handed the keys to his boss. The boss announced because the manager had been such a good worker and hadn’t complained, even though he didn’t get paid that much, that the keys were his. The boss announced that he was given his retiring project manager the house that he had built (with cheap products). How do you think that manager was feeling. Imagine what was going through his mind when the cold radiated off of the low quality windows in the winter, or imagine the electric bill going up because the cooling system wasn’t very efficient. As time went on, he became aware of how quickly the doors squeaked, how often the sinks plugged up, how the paint began to peel after the first hot summer, and so on. If that manager knew what was at stake, do you think he would have done things differently? I think the response of most people is, he really messed up. If only he knew what was at hand and had truly given his best. We are tempted to think he was such a fool, and yet are we any better? God calls us to be fishers of men. How much effort have you truly poured into that? The natural fisherman can’t wait to get to the lake to fish. He will get up before the sun rises. Even if he comes home empty handed, he usually has a story to tell of his efforts. So many that have been called to be fishers of men make excuses for why they can’t go, they keep putting off the call, and there is often no story because there was almost no effort. If you have been faithful fishers of men, praise God. If this catches you feeling a little sheepish or even embarrassed, don’t forget that feeling. It is not the time to start cutting corners and making half hearted efforts. Today is the opening fishing in the world. Lord, help us to recognize what gifts You have given us and how we can fully use those gifts faithfully, to Your glory. Amen