Article May 6, 1996 Issue

Why be obedient?

Irene L. Alley

Obeying God. Is it like eating vegetables? We think we ought to, but we're not enthusiastic about it! There's a Bible story that offers a different view of obedience. In it, a willingness to obey turns failure into fulfillment.

Christ Jesus is preaching from a boat to people who have gathered on the shore nearby to hear him. Fishermen are also there, cleaning their nets, preparing to end their day's work. After Jesus finishes preaching, he directs Simon, one of the fishermen, to cast his net again. Simon responds, "Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net" (Luke 5:5). Then Simon and his partners find a catch of fish greater than their nets can hold.

When Simon's human fathoming was replaced by obedience, defeat was turned into victory. In this case Simon may have obeyed mostly because of an intuition that he should do as this great Teacher had told him. But on this same day, he would be called by Jesus to become his disciple. He would begin to learn more of that obedience to God which is born of love and understanding.

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