It is quite significant that our Lord’s first encounter with those who were to be His disciples seems to describe the nature of their future calling and ministry. When Jesus first met Peter and Andrew they were casting a net into the sea. When He encountered James and John they were mending their nets. Is this mere coincidence that the Word records this difference?
I think the Lord would have us recognize the difference in their calling and ministry. We know that Peter was used to catch men. Several times in the book of Acts we see him casting forth the net and gathering in great numbers for the Lord. Even the undertone of his epistles is that of one who is catching men.
By contrast we see in the ministry of John, one who is building up, strengthening and establishing the Lord’s children in life, light and love. If we had only the ministry of Peter, there would be many fish who would, so to speak, get through the holes of the net and be lost to the larger purpose of God. But John has been uniquely prepared in temperament and training to plug these holes and conserve the efforts of Peter.
Now there are some “casters” who seem to lack appreciation for the “menders.” Again, there are those “menders” who lack the power to attract or catch men, but do not sense how necessary is the ministry of the “caster.” Peter needs John and John needs Peter! Throughout the Church today there is this evident conflict. It takes largeness of vision and heart to appreciate the calling and ministry of another. It is usually because the temperament and gift is so different that we find little basis of fellowship.
What is God’s answer? Too often it would seem men are unwitingly building little kingdoms for themselves. When men are “caught” they see them as related to their own work or ministry — not related to God’s purpose.
Too many servants of the Lord forget that while their ministry is unique and distinctive it is but a means to a larger end. Catching men or establishing lives — neither is the end. To allow men to be drawn exclusively to our calling is to fall into the snare of exalting our own calling as though it were the whole.
Through the years we have seen God take many choice vessels who had been quite effective in their sphere of ministry, into a deep crucible and shattering experience. It seems there is often no other way: He must allow everything we have built up around our own ministry to crash. Everything that can be shaken must be shaken until we can fellowship with God in that which is primary to His own heart. Once we wanted God’s interest in our projects, our programs or vision. We were only able to fellowship in those things which involved our calling and ministry. We lacked that inner capacity to fellowship in that larger purpose and program He cherished in Himself. Therefore He allowed our little kingdoms to dry up and be shattered that we might behold the whole program in His viewpoint.
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