I like to watch a television show called, "The Shark Tank" sometimes. A panel of multi-millionaire investors sits to hear entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas and ask for specific dollar amount investments to fund their dreams. In return, they offer various percentages of ownership in their companies.
Then, the negotiations begin.
Sometimes the "sharks" opt out entirely believing that they either will not get an adequate return on their investment or that they have no expertise or interest to bring to the table. Sometimes they make counter offers. Usually they do. Sometimes they outbid each others. Sometimes they form coalitions amongst themselves to offer competitive bids.
When an offer is made, it is up to the entrepreneur to accept or reject the offer from the potential partners.
Usually, part of the bottom line is something more than how much the "shark" is willing to invest and for how much interest in the company. It is the underlying question, "Do I want to be in partnership with this investor?"
It is a good question for churches and associations. We are in partnership together on a common mission. There is give and take and give and give and give. Money is only a small part of the investment. When we enter an associational partnership, we are giving of ourselves, our energies, and our reputations to associate together on a mission that is larger than our own special interests. We are partnering together on God's mission in the world.
In Philippians 1:5, Paul expressed joy in his prayers for the Philippian believers "because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now."
In Philemon 1:6, he prayed, "... that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ."
In verse 24, he referred to "Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers."
Then in I Corinthians, we get the big picture that, "... we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building."
We indeed have a partnership with each other, but our real partnership is the one we share together with God. The mission and the work is His and He believes there is enough of a potential return on His investment in us to invest everything to save us call us into His service.
How can we do less than invest our all in Him and invest ourselves in each other?
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