Promise Of Partnership
Jesus pursues you that you might walk together in a divine partnership becoming his disciple and partnering in ministry to others.
“The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan, east of the springs of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel...Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance."
Joshua 16:1, 4, 10
After all God did to take the people out of Egypt, get Egypt out of the people, strengthen them in the battles, the people finally received their promised inheritance of the promised land. God said I will be your God and you will be my people. The gift of the land was given to create a community that obeyed God's commands and glorified Him with how they lived. Everything that was received was owned by the community, not the individual.
We live in a very different world and tend to have a different mindset. The average American mindset is that what I own is something that I earned and is mine. How does that change the way we look at stewardship, generosity, and the purpose of provision? If what we have is for us alone, then it can be hard to want to share. If what we have is from God for God's people then the natural response would be to use it according to its intended purposes. How do you view your possessions? Do you see what you have as something to be used for God or that better be protected so that you do not lose what you have?
“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one."
Psalms 53:1-3, 6
We live in a world where there are people who do not believe in God. There are people who do not care one way or another. There are people who believe in God but their lives do not reflect obedience to God. There are people believe in God and who bear fruit for God. What is the difference? What good does it do to say you believe in God if you produce the same fruit as the unbeliever? Consider the words of your mouth or actions of your life and ask yourself if others can see a marked difference in how you live? Would someone who did not know you have faith recognize your faith by how you live, serve, give, and speak?
Jesus brought everything back to your heart. As evidenced in the parable of the sower, there are many reasons why people do not produce fruit. There are reasons why people do not partner with God and impact others. Jesus said the enemy, fear and anxiety, and pleasures or distractions of the world keep people from producing. David says it is the people who are not seeking that are not finding. Can you see how David is saying that it is not enough to sit back and not do wrong? David calls us out to seek and serve. David says our thinking can be corrupted and we can be influenced if we partner with fools in our lives. How are the people around you impacting you? How are you impacting others? Is there anything in your life that could be tainting your desire to trust God with your resources?
“How beautiful your sandaled feet, O prince’s daughter! Your graceful legs are like jewels, the work of an artist’s hands. How beautiful you are and how pleasing, my love, with your delights! I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me."
Song of Songs 7:1, 6, 10-11, 13
There is a beautiful parallel between Song of Songs 7 and Romans 10. In Song of Songs, the feet of the loved one are praised. In Romans, Paul praises the beautiful feet of those who share the gospel. Can you see the difference and which one ultimately relfects a life that is patterned after and partnering with Jesus?
Let us never be simply hearers of the word, but doers. The prince's daughter is praised for her outward beauty by her loved one. Jesus praises our inward beauty and when a heart comes into alignment with pleasing the Father. The question is who do you belong to and what belongs to you? It is easy to miss that our most valuable possession is meant to be our relationship with Jesus above anything earthly thing we might own.
“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared— who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken— who can but prophesy? “They do not know how to do right,” declares the Lord, “who store up in their fortresses what they have plundered and looted...Hear this and testify against the descendants of Jacob,” declares the Lord, the Lord God Almighty. “On the day I punish Israel for her sins, I will destroy the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.”
Amos 3:2-3, 7-8, 10-11, 13-14
Many years after God gave the promised land to His beloved people, He calls them to account for how they have used their gift. Jesus said the same thing in the parable of the talents. He said that each person receives gifts that they steward and that there will be a day of accounting for what you do with what you have been given. We live in a world that encourages you to use what you have for yourself. It asks if you need the newest toys, cars, homes, or famous vacation getaways. The world tells you that you deserve all these things. Jesus has a different perspective. He says blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God. Jesus did not celebrate a jet setting lifestyle, He chose to serve those in need.
God says to this people you have plundered and looted. He said punishment was going to come because the people did not partner with Him with what they possessed. How would your report card look if God asked you how you are stewarding your time, talent, and treasure?
“I pray 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. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord. So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me."
Philemon 1:3-10, 12, 15-18, 20, 25
Paul makes a rather drastic appeal about a man who was a runaway slave named Onesimus. This might not be a popular chapter to preach on because of the abomination of slavery. The deeper spiritual teaching sees beyond the slavery to the heart of the issue. Paul was challenging the believer about how he looked at his possessions and the people around him. Paul says Onesimus is not to be owned, he is to be loved as a brother in Christ. What would happen if treated each person like they were a child of God? What would happen if we stood up for those who cannot stand up for themselves and said the person is your very heart like Paul did for Onesimus? Would gossip disappear? Would slander and offense evaporate?
If we are honest, we might want to consider to the words of David. God looks at the world and sees that no one is perfect. All sin and fall short of the glory of God. We are sinners who need a Savior to make things right. When we get off track in our thinking whether about possessions or people, we have a choice to make. Will we continue with the patterns of a polarizing world and focus on our own prosperity? Or will we choose to see all that we have as a gift from God and seek to partner with Him in helping build up the community?
The choice is ours to make but we ought to keep in mind that one day we will be accountable for what we choose. This in no way is to create fear as perfect love casts out fear. Rather, it is a call to freedom. If you know the truth, the truth will set you free from the letting your possessions possess you or the ways of the world get in the way of doing the good that God calls you to do. In John 15, Jesus said I no longer call you servant, I call you a friend. A slave does not know his Master's business, but I have made known to you the plans of the father. We know what to do, the question is will we do it. You can make yourself beautiful by using your resources for yourself. Or you can hear your feet described as beautiful, hands lovely, and heart faithful by sharing the good news, giving what you can, and by partnering with Jesus to help other people.