When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for men.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Why did Simon call himself a sinful man? Is it sinful to work hard? What was it in Simon’s heart that he recognized did not follow God?

All of us are faced with a moment or two in life where we must decide following Jesus is worth sacrificing everything else. We also must decide if we will continue to pursue the things of this world or if we will put God first. I think Simon Peter saw in this moment that his heart had been corrupted by the world. All of the vain things he wanted most, in one moment he had. Think about it… he had so many fish that he could buy whatever he wanted. And all of those dreams and desires did not satisfy him the way he thought they would. But what did make a mark in his heart is the teaching of Jesus Christ. The truth impacts us! It was something new, something greater than anything he had ever pursued. And so, he left it all behind to follow the one who loved him deeply. No longer was pursuing “a few dollars more” worth it. Jesus had taught him a lesson! To God, the hearts of men mattered more than “a few dollars more.”

Thank you, Lord, that you teach us these lessons in life and in your Word. At the end of the day, saving souls is the business of eternity. Making more money is a fleeting goal. May you continue to refine the faith in my heart to seek after YOU FIRST — ALL THE TIME!