J.R. Lee

Gain Perspective on Full-Net Problems

BY J.R. LEE

“I wish I had the same kind of problems that you have.” That statement uttered from the mouth of an acquaintance stuck with me.

We just shared some challenges we were facing. He recently started a church and was having a difficult time with the facility he was renting. Combine that with very few people showing up, and it was a massive challenge he needed to overcome. Contrastly, we were dealing with the opposite issues. We owned a facility, but it was bursting at the seams. A different kind of problem, but a problem nonetheless.

Two different people. Two different types of problems. A doctor named Luke writes about this in the Bible.

A couple men had been fishing all night, but their nets were empty. Coming home empty-handed is a major problem when you are career fishermen who depend on their catch for their livelihood. The next morning, Jesus intervened.

Luke 5:4 states, “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’”

Verses six and seven continue with, “When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to rip. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.”

Now the men faced a different problem. Their nets were so full that they began to rip. A different kind of problem, but a problem nonetheless. I think the same is true for you and me, regardless of where you are financially, or relationally, right now.

It can be stressful to have a home full of people that you need to prepare for, entertain and feed. It’s not always easy to maneuver through life in the midst of uncertain economic times. Schedules are crazy. Traffic is crazy. Honestly, life is crazy, but at least our nets are full.

Full-net problems are the kind of problems people with empty nets would love to have. That changes my perspective. • Cooking far too much food for far too many people is a full-net problem, because so many are isolated and alone. • Spending hours planning the perfect vacation is a full-net problem, because so many haven’t been on vacation in years. • Sitting in traffic on the way to your job is a full-net problem, because so many wish they had a job to drive to. • A messy house full of kids is a full-net problem, because so many haven’t been able to have children.

Don’t get me wrong. Having a full net can be stressful, but it sure does beat staring at an empty one.

Pastor J.R. Lee is husband to Devin, dad to Lexi, London and Bryce, and pastor of Freedom Church. Follow him on Instagram at @PastorJRLee, Twitter at @JRLee, or on the Freedom Church YouTube channel.