Imagine having a financial advisor whose stock-market predictions were 100-percent accurate. Wall Street would soon put you on easy street. Or suppose your livelihood was fishing and you had a friend who could always lead you to just the right spot at just the right time. Every day you could have a money-making catch.

I wonder, did the appeal of such prosperity flash across the minds of the four seasoned fishermen who took Jesus' advice? After working all night with no success, they let down their nets at His command, and the catch nearly sank two boats (Lk. 5:6-7).

Many people today seem to be drawn to Jesus by those who proclaim that God wants them healthy and wealthy. Without question, Jesus showed concern for the sick and the poor. It is not wrong to make health and material needs the objects of our prayers, for our heavenly Father cares deeply about us (Mt. 7:7-11). But His greatest concern and delight is not to "fill our nets with fish." He wants to fill our hearts with His love so we will become fishers of men. And He can do that only when we recognize, as Peter did (Lk. 5:8), how spiritually needy we are. The richest people are those who have experienced the love of Christ and want to share it with others. That's true prosperity!  — Dennis J. De Haan