More Thoughts on Leverage

One of my favorite verses on partnership and companionship has to be Ecclesiastes 4:9-12...

⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: ¹⁰ If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! ¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? ¹² Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands in not quickly broken.

This section of scripture teaches us the value of leveraging our resources, our strength and our talents to accomplish more for the kingdom of God. there are three principles we should note when it comes to leverage...

1. When we leverage ourselves we have a good return for the work. We are more effective when we combine forces. I know of 2 churches in Indiana that combines their efforts for Vacation Bible School each year, as a result they are more effective in ministry; because they are partnering together for a common goal or having a quality VBS ministry.
2. There is also a sense of providing genuine aid to one anther. Solomon says If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Life is tough and we need one another to help when we fall down (and we will fall down!) I have been in ministry long enough to see that over time, strong churches become weak churches and weak churches become strong churches. It has been my experience that we seldom come to the aid of the struggling church and too often we are jealous of the strong church. However, when we practice the concept of leverage, we begin to partner together helping all churches to grow stronger.
3. We have a built in defense system. Solomon says, "a cord of three strands is not quickly broken." There is strength in unity. Unity sends a powerful message or both purpose and priorities. Want to see what disunity looks like? Just look at Washington D.C. Two parties that cannot agree on very much. They have divided purpose and priorities and unfortunately not much is getting done and there seems to be lot of frustration! However when we unite there is a power of transformation where God's plan is revealed to all people - that is why Jesus prayed for unity. John 17:20-21, "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Who can I partner with today? That is the question I am asking myself? I hope you will ask the same question of yourself as well?