3. The Magic of Partnerships
There are very few times, if any, where we walk alone. We all need each other. If you are going to be fruitful in the area you have been appointed and sent, you will need other people. There is a certain magic of partnerships that helps propel you from where you are to where you are supposed to be.
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about go.
Luke 10:1
The secret to successful partnerships lies in this, the Lord forms them. Let us look at a few examples:
1. The First Partnership
So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man.”
Genesis 2:20-23
The first recorded partnership was that of Adam and Eve. What can we learn from this partnership?
- God presents partners to you, but He does not force you to engage with them. God presented Eve to Adam, He did not say anything to Adam. Adam discerned what the Lord was doing and spoke forth and named Eve.
- Your partner should be a suitable helper. Anyone can offer to help you, but are they suited to help you fulfill your task, assignment or purpose? If they are not, chances are that you will end up in a mess!
2. The Life Saving Partnership
Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to take my life?” “Never!” Jonathan replied. “You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn’t do anything, great or small, without confiding in me. Why should he hide this from me? It’s not so!…
Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.”…
Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother who bore you? As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send and bring him to me, for he must die!”…
After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together–but David wept the most. Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.'” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.
1 Samuel 20:1, 2, 4, 30, 31, 41, 42
A story of partnership cannot be told without the deep friendship of David and Jonathan. It shows the irony of God made partnerships:
- They can come from the most unexpected of quarters. David had already been anointed as king by Prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 16:13). Therefore, he should have been an adversary to Jonathan, who was an heir to the throne. But God looks at Jonathan and sees in him a perfect partner for David.
- They are selfless. Jonathan willingly gave up his throne for David and did not ask for anything in return.
- They can preserve generations. Unbeknownst to Jonathan, his selfless act would result in the preservation of his bloodline. David saved the life of Jonathan’s son when he finally ascended to the throne. See 2 Samuel 9
3. The Business Partnership
Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and Elath on the coast of Edom. And Hiram sent him ships commanded by his own officers, men who knew the sea. These with Solomon’s men, sailed to Ophir and brought back four hundred and fifty talents of gold, which was delivered to King Solomon.
2 Chronicles 8:17-18
(The men of Hiram and the men of Solomon brought gold from Ophir; they also brought algum-wood and precious stones. The king used the algum-wood to make steps for the temple of the LORD and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. Nothing like them had ever been seen in Judah.)
2 Chronicles 9:10-11
The king had a fleet of trading ships manned by Hiram’s men. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons. King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.
2 Chronicles 9:21-22
Just who exactly was Hiram? He was the King of Tyre and a friend of David ( 1 Kings 5:1). What can we learn from this partnership?
- It is okay, even profitable, to have “networks”. But, the Lord must be the foundation from which these networks are built and sustained.
- God can fulfill His promises based on our partnerships. He used the strong partnership between Hiram and Solomon to enrich him as he had promised.
4. The Partnership in Ministry
While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
Acts 13:2-3
What stands out about this partnership?
- Even in ministry, you need partnerships.
- The Holy Spirit was the author of this partnership, as He should always be.
- God cannot force you to continue in partnership. Paul and Barnabass had a falling out in Acts 15:36-40. You have to nurture the partnerships God gives you for them to fluorish.
Your Turn
What shall we say about Rahab and the Jewish spies, Ruth and Naomi, Esther and Mordecai, Elijah and Elisha among many more?
God is clear in His Word. We need partnerships…God ordained partnerships.
Will you submit your partnerships to the Lord?
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no-one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12