Casting Your Nets

In Luke 5, we read a story that begins with two empty boats. Then we find Peter on the shore washing and repairing his nets. Jesus first commands Peter to get into the boat with Him. Peter obliges, and they push off into the water. Then, in verse 4, Jesus instructs Peter, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” It is at this point in the narrative that we find out why the boats were empty and why Peter was sitting on the shore repairing his nets instead of standing in the boat casting them. Peter initially resists Jesus’ directive and says, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing.” Peter wasn’t mending his nets because they were in disrepair – after all, they hadn’t held any fish all night – he was mending his nets because he was worn down by failure, and it was easier to avoid the risk of further defeat with the semblance of preparation. By engaging in an activity that appeared to be productive, he was able to justify his neglect of the actions most necessary: to take his boat out into the deep and cast his nets. With his confidence and resolve eroded by failure, Peter substituted appropriate action with an acceptable activity.

As the story progresses, Peter somewhat begrudgingly follows Jesus’ instructions, goes out into the deep, and casts his nets. What results is such a large catch that they had to call over another boat to help them haul in all the fish! The irony of the story comes out when the text tells us Peter’s net began to break because of the weight of all the fish. Now he had better go repair his nets!

While you may never find yourself out all night tossing your nets into the deep and pulling them up empty, I think all of us experience the feelings Peter experienced that night. Exhausted by failure, it’s tempting to look busy with activity rather than expose ourselves to another potential defeat. And it allows us to save face in front of the world because we are “preparing.”

Please don’t misunderstand, preparation is essential. But it is no substitute for execution. If you aren’t careful, it is easy to succumb to a perpetual cycle of preparation. Just remember, knowledge is always gained through experience, but experience can never be gained through knowledge. At some point, you must go out into the deep and cast your nets.

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