Tuesday, January 20, 2009

The Power of Partnership (Part 2)

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“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9).

Partnership. It is often the single most determining factor in the difference between success and failure.

The apostle John wrote a brief and powerful letter to a friend named Gaius. Along with the affectionate greetings and basic instructions, John especially wanted to commend Gaius for his partnership with the traveling preachers who had passed his way.

“Dear friend,” he wrote, “you are doing a good work for God in taking care of the traveling teachers and missionaries who are passing through. They have told the church here of your friendship and your loving deeds. I am glad when you send them on their way with a generous gift. For they are traveling for the Lord and take neither food, clothing, shelter, nor money from those who are not Christians, even though they have preached to them. So we ourselves should take care of them in order that we may become partners with them in the Lord's work.” (3 John 1:5-8).

Five Point Summary from John’s Short Letter:
  • It is a good work for God when individuals provide moral and financial support for traveling teachers and missionaries.
  • The reports of such support are an example to the greater Body of Christ.
  • It is a cause for gladness when they are sent on their journey with a generous gift.
  • Generous individuals enable traveling ministers to be free from money-making commerce, and to focusing their time and energies in ministry.
  • Those who give to ministry become partners in the Lord’s work, and share in the rewards.
Someone said that a burden shared is halved, and a joy shared is doubled. That’s the power of partnership. It reduces the negative, and increases the positive.

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