All my close friends know that I am an avid bass fisherman. I started bass fishing with my father at a very early age and have continued to this very day. It is no surprise to me that Jesus chose fisherman to be His first disciples because of everything that fishing teaches you. The following are just a few life lessons that fishing instills in a person and these same lessons are applicable to whatever you do.

Humility – I have caught as many as 60 bass in one day of fishing. I have also caught as few as zero in one day on the same lake and at the same time of day. That will humble you. Just when you think you are a pretty good fisherman, and you have the fish all figured out, you realize you are not as smart as you think. It’s almost like the fish know when you are getting prideful. Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:8)

Flexibility  & Change– Bass are very fickle. One day they will be hitting a certain type of lure and the next day you cannot get a bite on that same lure. You have to be willing to change baits, change colors, change depths, change places on the lake, etc. Change is the one thing that is constant with bass and if you are not willing to change you will be a frustrated bass fisherman. It is the same in your spiritual life. If you are a born-again Christian you were changed from darkness to light. Your desires, hopes, and actions changed and hopefully they are still being changed. But we all, with uncovered face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Respect – Believe it or not, I have learned to respect the bass. Some people think I am crazy when I tell them that I talk to the bass. I tell the bass that I am going to make them famous. I tell them I am going to take their picture and post it on the internet. And to top it off, I am going to let them go. It’s a win-win situation. And then, when I catch one, I tell them to go back and tell their mama that we treated them with respect. Jesus said He would make His disciples fishers of men. To be a successful fisher of men you need to respect people. Ministry is a people business. If it’s all about you, and not the people, you have gone astray. Respect works in any type business, not just ministry.

Never Quit Attitude – A true fisherman never gives up. No matter how bad a day they have a true fisherman will always go back for more and try again. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9, ESV)

Let me tell you a story about what happened just today. Me and a friend went bass fishing early this morning. We had caught several nice bass when a really big one hit my lure. This fish was over 10 pounds and usually this size bass knows to hit when you are least expecting it (they just somehow know). Well, this beautiful bass jumped completely out of the water with my lure in his mouth and he threw it right back at me. It was like he was showing all the smaller bass how it was done. Now I could have gotten mad and cussed but I have learned to respect the bass and just enjoy the journey. I don’t have to catch every big bass. I have caught my share over the years and I am just thankful for the beauty of the sport and the lessons it has taught me. However, I know where he is and the next time I will be better prepared (hopefully) and I will never quit fishing for him (the true passion of a bass fisherman cannot be hidden).