If one should trust in the Lord today to do His will in going at His command is it possible that he too would return to say he lacked nothing? Could there be any power that could hinder the promise of Jesus to such a minister? Is there a greater power of the people than that of God, that could hinder a man who has done the bidding of His Heavenly Father, and keep him from being fed and clothed?

But, (and if) the Lord so cared for His ministers, should they disregard the second admonition, and use the first as an occasion to the flesh, would the minister be pleasing the Lord in this. And, I heard my Saviour say, he that hath no sword (bible) let him sell his garment and buy one. He did not say he that hath no sword let him tell the people they ought to buy him one! (Luke 22:36)

Do I correctly understand my Jesus, that He is teaching the preachers to use their own means, and food, and not to depend upon others for it? Or is he telling them to take it along, just in case the Heavenly Father should forget about what they had need of? Repeatedly I would ask until I have found the truth of the question: Can a man please God and then be robbed of the reward? If so, what is there in the service to give us faith that He will perform the promise of eternal life through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, which we preach, and which we allow that them that hear us should believe also? Oh the heed unto ourselves! Behold how great a matter, and how solemn and sincere should be the study, for in so ding there is salvation for us, and them of who we go in and out among! Behold, what grave responsibility is laid upon the ministers.

Now, may I go in thought to the banks of the sea, as here too I find many more questions I would love to ask as I scan the crest of the waves out there to the fishermans boat where I see a bunch of preachers who had gone fishing? (John 21:3) Tell me, brethren, when Jesus stood on those very banks and called to those preachers, am I wrong to think they were fishermen by trade and thereby earned their living? If so, then it should also be true that He called to them as they were about their daily work. I am wondering what was going on in their minds and hearts as hey toiled the whole night through, and gained nothing of their labors? Was it displeasing to the Lord for them to be working at all? And if so could they be blessed in displeasing him? Very seriously now, I wonder if Simon Peter didnt think he was through with trying to preach the gospel when he said "I go fishing" and those that went with him. I wonder if the attitude they took toward the whole matter is not what caused them to fail to catch fish tat night?

Jesus having been crucified as He had told them He must be, and had given them the promise that he would not leave them comfortless, but would come unto them, yet when they could not see him directly with the eye they began to doubt that there would be any use to go on preaching the gospel. Thus they were minded to give it up altogether, and go back to working never to return to preaching. If Jesus called them from their daily work, never to return, and if it be displeasing to Him for them ever to return to it again, then I would wish to know why Jesus did not tell them to quit fishing altogether. Why did He not tell them to roll up their nets and never do that again?

What is the blessed truth of the lesson to these preachers here? Why did Jesus tell them to cast their nets on the other side of the ship? And why did they catch so many fish when they fished from the side of the ship He told them to, If it be so wrong to fish at all? Question after question: I read that when they had obeyed the command to fish on the right side they caught so many they could not draw their nets for the multitude. If I understand this Scripture these preachers were still working. Now, if they should not have been out there at all, why were they so blessed? And why would Jesus tell them to work from the other side of the situation if it be wrong to work at all? Well, Simon Peter and those that were with him had, to my understanding, desired to quit preaching altogether, and go to work, but they failed at the job. Not only so, but Jesus had caught them at the job, and told them to go ahead and work, but do so from the other side, or work with the mind that there is every reason to preach the gospel, and be ready to go anytime he should be led to go.

I feel certain this is true, for Jesus gave Peter another wonderful lesson when He said "Loveth thou me more than these?" St. John 21:15. Here Peter was ready to give up this business of preaching and go back to work altogether and here Jesus interrupted this thought with another. Do you love the prosperity of your daily labors more than you do me? Was he not teaching them that their daily work should not be allowed to dominate, or take precedence over the preaching of the gospel?