Don't become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That's not partnership; that's war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God's holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. (The Message)
One definition of a partnership is that of two or more individuals working together toward a common goal with both shared risks and rewards. Partnerships are something that is not just found in the business world but is something that each of us enter into on a regular basis both formally and informally. As several of us are working toward the healthy establishment of a new church model we together are entering a partnership with the shared goal of working with Jesus in the furthering of the Kingdom of God in the places we find ourselves today.
Paul warns us of the risks not just in business or ministry but also in relationships when he warns people not to be unequally yoked when it comes to marriage. The basic message behind Paul's warning is that when we don't have a common goal of serving God and following Jesus we are going to run into conflict and trouble. It is that conflict which Paul knows will eventually lead us to make choices about the things that we do and those choices will often times end up not honoring God.
Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:
- What do you think the difference is between Paul's warning not to enter into unholy partnerships and his encouragement to engage those who don't believe in Jesus?
- Where have you seen unhealthy partnerships take place in the world around you?
- If you could describe the best possible partnership to enter into what would it look like?
- What do you need to do to take stock of the partnerships that you are engage with?
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