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THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP
"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
(Amos 3: 3)
LEADERS AND PARTNERS
Before we talk about people, let's look at the nature of horses. Whenever I see a horse that's a natural born leader in a herd, I tend to think that horse will make a pretty good partner. Why? Because they seem to inherently understand the give and take dynamics of leader - partner relationship. Let me explain. Horses are herd animals by nature. Because of their innate social needs, they seek out the company of one another. Usually, within just a few minutes of two horses meeting for the first time, a powerful partnership will form with one horse emerging as the indisputable leader. Studies have shown that this leadership quality can already be seen in the behavior of young colts and fillys when interacting together for the first time.
SOMETIMES IT TAKES A LEADER TO RECOGNIZE A LEADER
When they are out in the pasture, my horse, Samson, (above, on the left) is definitely the leader of his two horse herd, and Montana is content to be the follower. Both horses are comfortable in their own skin, and understand the dynamics of their partnership.
When I come in to the picture, the dynamics change, and I become the leader of our herd of three. Both horses recognize the shift in authority, but because he is a leader himself, it is Samson who best understands and recognizes my authority.
PARTNERSHIP AND A FUNNY WORD CALLED RECIPROCITY
Me and my best partner, Samson. PARTNERSHIP is still spelled T-I-M-E.
If you want powerful partnership, then
you've got to take the time it takes.
Definition of Partnership
Participation, Association, Sharing;
a Reciprocal Relationship
Definition of Reciprocity
The willingness to treat others as one would expect themselves to be treated.
Whether it's with a person or a horse, having a powerful partnership has everything to do with reciprocity. And what's reciprocity? In essence, it's the willingness to treat others as one would expect themselves to be treated. I know it sounds a bit simple, and yet complicated, at the same time. To help us get a better understanding, here's a short story from the Bible that illustrates what reciprocity looks like between two leaders. One leader is a centurian and the other leader is Jesus. And what is the result of this reciprocal relationship? The result is a powerful partnership between two leaders that is based in faith.
THE CENTURIAN LEADER
(Matthew 8: 5-9, 13)
Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurian came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented."
And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."
The centurian answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." ...
Then Jesus said to the Centurian, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you."And his servant was healed that same hour.
A THREEFOLD CORD IS NOT EASILY BROKEN
"Two are better than one, because they
have a good reward for their toil.
For if they fall one will lift up his companion, but woe to him who is alone when he falls,
for he has no one to help him up... though
one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him and a threefold cord is not easily broken."
(Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12)
THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP AND THE THREEFOLD CORD
Throughout scripture we're told about the power of partnership. However, when we think about partnership, we usually think in two's. For example, we think of two business partners, two people who are married, two people having an agreement, etc. In the book of Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12, we're clearly told that two are better than one when it comes to fighting life's battles. But the Bible makes clear that a third party (the one that makes up the threefold cord) is necessary if we want to win the war!
Two is better than one when it comes to fighting life's battles. But it takes three if you want to win the war!
So, what is the Bible talking about when it mentions the strength of a threefold cord? First off, the threefold cord is representative of the triune of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. But the heart and intent of this scripture is telling us that when two of God's children are in one mind and one accord with one another, then God, the triune, is with them. God, the triune, is the third cord. And He is the real strength and power of that partnership.
WHAT PARTNERSHIP DOES LIGHT HAVE WITH DARKNESS?
"Do not be yolked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship (partnership) can light have with darkness?
(2 Corinthians 6: 14)
Samson and Montana are like two peas in a pod, and equally yolked.
TWO PEAS IN A POD AND
EQUALLY YOLKED
My horses are just like two peas in a pod, and I would describe them as being very equally yolked, not only with one another, but with me, too. Did that just happen by accident? Absolutely not! The last place I want to be accident prone is in choosing a horse!
Talk about being picky - I am. I have strong specifics in mind when it comes to what I want in a horse. For example, my breed of choice is the American Quarter Horse. That means I'm not likely to be out there shopping for a large draft horse, even though they're wonderful horses, too. I also like a horse with experience in a specific western discipline like western pleasure or reining. And the list goes on, and on, and on. So, why am I so picky? I'm picky for the same reasons we should all be picky about our choices in life. We can't have powerful partnerships with anyone that doesn't meet the right standards to begin with.
POWERFUL PARTNERSHIPS AND GODLY STANDARDS
Without Godly standards, there is no power in partnership. And when it comes to Godly standards, the Bible has a lot to say to you and me. In 2 Corinthians 6: 14 (see scripture above), we're given a serious warning about involving ourselves in wrong partnerships. It's a scripture that's often used when counseling couples considering marriage, the implication being that two people of different faiths shouldn't marry because they're un-equally yolked. However, this scriptural warning is not limited to just marriage. It concerns all relationships, friendships, and even business partnerships. Let's cut to the chase. Simply put, if you are un-equally yolked together with anyone - anyone at all - that partnership will ultimately fail.
The good news is that you and I never have to fail. Why? Because God has given us His standards for success. He's also called us into a perfect partnership with His son, Jesus Christ. Perhaps the most beautiful thing about our partnership with the Lord is the reality that we are never alone. Yeah, I know. Being a lone ranger has a kind of romantic cowboy ring to it, at least in some twisted sort of way. But the truth is, being a lone ranger was never God's plan for you and me. He had a better plan. A perfect plan of powerful and everlasting partnership with His Son.
"God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship (partnership) of his son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
(2 Corinthians 1: 9)
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