Quality or Quantity?

Last weekend my friend John and I decided to do an impromptu fishing trip to Caswell Memorial State Park on the Stanislaus River. The water was a little higher than usual for this time of year so we weren’t able to get to our favorite area to fish. That, coupled with the water being surprisingly cold, kind of put us at a disadvantage. We set up as best we could and hoped for the best. After about an hour without even a bite, the conversation turned to the classic fishing scenario: Would you rather wait all night for just one big one, or catch a lot of smaller ones throughout the evening? We both rather reluctantly agreed to the first. About two hours into the evening John was casually contemplating changing his mind. I mean slapping mosquitoes and watching the local muskrat swim back and forth across the river can only entertain a guy so long. Suddenly everything shifted. John’s pole bent so low it looked like it was going to end up in the water, and as he ran slipping and sliding down to get it, I kind of figured he would end up in there also. After a pleasantly drawn out battle with what I was sure was a killer striped bass, we netted a monster catfish that ended up being his personal best. 9lbs 8oz - (John says 10 because he rounded up.) Quality always wins. Making it even sweeter was the fact that I got "skunked" this time, something that rarely happens to me. I guess this was my evening to play "fishing guide". 

It got me thinking about our throwaway, instant gratification, I-want-everything-now way of life. How many times do we settle for quantities of small when we should be saving up or patiently waiting for that quality experience?  Now don’t get me wrong. Sometimes it nice to just enjoy the small. But have we lost the patience and tenacity to work toward a bigger goal that might take months or years to fulfill? There’s something to be said about saving up, putting time and effort into a long term goal, and finally see it realized. 

What about spiritually? Are you storing up incorruptible treasure in heaven or just spending all your time working for things that will fade in time? In the long run, quality will always trump quantity. It just takes a little patience. 

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Matthew 6:19-21