June 18, 2026

Business by the Book

Matthew 4:18  And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

Commercial fishermen cast nets into the sea; that is what they do, for they are fishermen. Sales people sell, that’s what they do. Managers manage, accountants keep the financial books in order, assembly workers assemble products, and information technology experts oversee all aspects of computers in the workforce. Firemen do not arrest people; policemen do not put out fires for a living. Physicians do not deliver mail and mail carriers do not normally perform surgeries.

Working at the job a person has is an important step to lifelong success. Peter and Andrew were called of the Lord into the business of catching men with the gospel instead of catching fish. But if they had not been busy catching fish they may not have been successful at catching men. Every success builds a foundation on which future successes rest. Do the job you have today to the very best of your ability and you will be prepared for future advancement. Give a lackluster effort on today’s job and future advancement may be missed.

I once worked with a man that was in law school. We were young and our job was very mundane, routine, and physically challenging. He always spoke of that which he was learning in law school. The way he spoke about the legal system would make it appear that he was a teacher instead of a student for he was very passionate. I’m sure he went on to be a judge or a law professor for some university. His heart and mind was on his future career in the legal profession, yet, he was also a very good worker on the job that was paying the way for his law degree. He worked at his current job knowing that he was being prepared for a better job.

Whatever your work responsibility is today do it with all your ability. It may be that as you simply do your work that a new and wonderful opportunity that you have never even dreamed about will come your way as it did with Peter and Andrew. Or perhaps the opportunity that you have dreamed about will become a reality. At the very worst you will keep your current job. Either way, work at the work you are employed to do and success will find you one way or another. Additionally, let others do the work they are employed to do.

Dr. William Howe