Once, there was a wealthy man who spent his days fishing in the lake beside his mansion. Every day, he noticed a poor man living in a dilapidated old shack in the woods. While the rich man boasted the latest fishing gear, the poor man used only a string tied to a stick. He fished for about an hour, rarely catching more than two fish before returning home.

After many years, the wealthy man chose to approach the poor man. He remarked, “Please forgive me, but we’ve fished together for years, and I’m intrigued. You come here daily, catch only a few fish, and then go home. I can't help but wonder why you don’t stay longer? If you spent just a few more hours each day, you could sell the extra fish in town. With that money, you could buy a better fishing rod and increase your catch. Eventually, you could purchase a boat, hire another man, and bring in more fish. You wouldn’t have to be on the boats all day; you could have a large company generating substantial income. Then, you could spend your days fishing alone, as long as you wish, doing what you enjoy without any worries.”

The poor man replied: “But, sir, I don’t understand, that’s what I’m doing now!

Someone has said that to be content with the life God has given is to live the richest life of all. Paul put it this way in 1 Timothy 6:6 ESV: “⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain,…”

Blessings on your faith journey,

Gene