Bible Reading: Psalm 119:1-48; 1 Corinthians 3.
Memory Verse: “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9 (KJV)
A partnership is an arrangement where parties, known as business partners, agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests. The business partners will share profit from the business usually in the ratio of their contribution. So when you are in a partnership, your share of the income in the business will depend on your contribution to it. It is however important to note that the partners must work together and cooperate with each other to get the desired result. It’s just like the human body where the functions of eyes are different from those of mouth, but they cooperate in order for the human body to work harmoniously. Similarly, brethren in Christianity should work together to depopulate the kingdom of darkness and populate God’s kingdom. Apostle Paul understood this relationship quite well and that is why he said in 1 Corinthians 3:6 (KJV), “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”
What are you doing as a partner in the things of God? You can be a Pastor, Teacher, Evangelist, Apostle or Missionary. You can also be a care-giver, chorister, an usher, electrical engineer, fund provider among other service providers in the church. Whatever your role in the church, it is important that you recognize that partnership works. And you should ensure you work with others to achieve the goal of the church which is essentially winning souls unto God and equipping those souls to ensure they know God and remain committed to loving God as well as loving themselves and their neighbours.
If you are not playing any role in the church now, it is important that you find one that agrees with your personality and, more importantly, work with others to ensure unity.
Unity of purpose in church is very critical as quite a number of people tend to create divisions and offenses in the church through their actions. Some try to work alone in order to showcase their talents, while some prefer to work for the Pastor or Head of Department to be noticed. Others just want to do the minimum to show they are involved but will not devote enough time to any assignment. It’s important that as children of God, you need to ensure the various contributions are harmonized and a partnership is formed as the success of the partnership depends on the owner of the assignment who, in this case, is God Almighty. It’s important to recognize that everyone working in the church is working with and for God! That is why Apostle Paul told the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 3:9 (KJV), “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”
Action point: Work with other members of your team to ensure your partnership in church works harmoniously.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero