the market place, or in the field, or in the town.  This at least is one good

qualification for higher service.  These men were diligent in their business,

and not wasting time in vain efforts.  While it is commendable to seek to

advance and improve one's position, it is possible for there to be a

restlessness and false pride which is very harmful.

Those who have any responsibility in the choice of candidates for

Christian service would do well to bear this in mind.  It is recorded that

one of the qualifications of a young man who applied to C. H. Spurgeon for

admission into the Pastors' College was that he had made a failure of every

job he had undertaken; hence he felt called to the ministry.  We can readily

understand Spurgeon refusing such an application.  In Christian service, most

of us find that our own peculiar temperament and manner of approach to things

is not suppressed by the Lord when we enter His service.  What the Lord said

to Moses, he says to us all -- 'What is that in thine hand?' (Exod. 4:2).

The fiery zeal of Saul the persecutor was not quenched at his conversion, but

sanctified and used in the service of his Lord.  An art training that at

first seemed wasted has enabled the writer to prepare numerous charts for use

at meetings; and a knowledge of the principles of ornament and design has

played some part in the perception of the balance and underlying pattern of

the structures of Scripture.

We note next that, whereas Peter and Andrew were 'casting a net into

the sea', James and John with their father were 'mending their nets'.  These

operations represent two necessary and interdependent pieces of work.  A net,

however well mended, is valueless if it is never cast into the sea, while a

net, however vigorously cast into the sea, is valueless if it is badly

broken.  The same Lord calls some to be 'casters', and some 'menders'.  They

are 'fishers', not singly, but jointly.  Some are called to preach; some to

teach.  Some are called to gather in; others to build up.  The Lord has need

of all.  The word translated 'mend' in Matthew 4:21 is used by Paul of the

ministry given by the ascended Christ in connection with the dispensation of

the Mystery:

'And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists;

and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints' (Eph.

It is also used of the very valuable ministry detailed in Galatians 6:1:

'Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual,

restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself,

lest thou also be tempted'.

Another important feature which must not be ignored is the evident

fellowship of all concerned.  Andrew working amicably with Peter his brother;

James and John together with their father Zebedee.  Unity in service is not

always easy to attain.  There is nearly always some part of the service that

is coveted by the fleshly mind, some office that is apparent and will receive

public recognition; while there are other essential acts of service that can

never be seen or assessed by man.  Think of the many who must serve unknown

and unrecognized in order that the pen -written study now in progress may be

delivered in printed form to the home of the reader.  The manuscript is

passed on to friends who, as a labour of love, turn the rapidly written words

into clear typewritten characters.  The typescript is then reviewed by other

friends who check all references, so that nothing shall pass into print

without being verified.  It is then carefully made ready for the printer;