Matthew 4:18-19
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As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them, “Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
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The passage can be interpreted from two angles: the relationship between Jesus and people, and the relationship between people. Both carry serious implications and challenges for our Christian life. Today, we will explore the truth of this narrative from the perspective of Jesus’ relationship with people.
Two things are striking in this account. First, the calling of Simon and Andrew appears spontaneous. Verse 18 says that as Jesus was walking along the Sea of Galilee, He called Simon and Andrew. There is no indication that Jesus deliberately passed by the lake to call them. Thus, we can say those who are called often do not expect or anticipate the call. They are summoned suddenly without time to prepare.
This sudden calling shows that God’s call—revealed through His will and plans in daily life—does not always come at our preferred time. We cannot pick which of God’s wills will occur in our lives or choose the exact timing for carrying them out. When God’s will arrives, the best time to act on it is then. Therefore, if God is softly knocking at our hearts through the Holy Spirit now, let us allow Him to work by responding immediately. Our relationship with God is not fully controllable; this is where obedience operates. Obedience is consenting to do God’s will in its exact moment.
The second striking feature is Matthew’s deliberate contrast. In those two verses, Matthew uses the phrase “fishers of men” against “fishermen.” The contrast emphasizes the shift in role and focus for Simon and Andrew. Previously, their role centered on catching fish; now they are disciples focused on human lives. This indicates that relating to God brings an awareness of changed roles and focuses.
Before following the Lord, our role and focus may be that of a father providing for his family or an employee doing office work. But a relationship with God transforms that. We still provide for our families, but we also take on a new role as spiritual fathers, focusing not only on material provision but also on leaving an eternal inheritance through lives that love God. We still work diligently as employees, but not solely for sustenance; we recognize God’s calling in that and become a blessing to coworkers. There is an inward shift of role and focus.
Being related to God means being ready for inward changes in role and focus. Many people only change the “religion” box on their ID, but do not internalize the role and focus on God. Examine your heart: has our focus recently shifted from being a “fisher of fish” toward becoming a “fisher of men”