My daughter, Ruth, loves Disney's High School Musical films and so I suppose I've had the music playing in the background for quite a long time now and one of the songs in both the 1st and 3rd films is "We're all in this together", where the cast sing of the importance of supporting one another, caring for one another and helping one another to achieve their best. I think this is actually a very good picture of partnership. I love this word because it speaks of so much more than a lot of the words we use about involvement in the life and community of the church. 'Volunteering' is important but it speaks of work, 'membership' is the traditional term but sounds more like a gym or video rental and makes me think of what I can get out of the membership ... what are the 'benefits.' Partnership, however, speaks of give and take and about the fact that I need you as much as you need me. It is about what I can give to the kingdom as much as what I get out of the kingdom.
It's intriguing to think of the great and mighty apostle Paul needing others. We get an impression of him being self-sufficient and yet here we see him overjoyed at the fact that the Philippians are partnering with him in the gospel. He doesn't say that they are 'supporting' him or 'helping' him but that they are partnering with him. Whether it is through prayer, finance or workers, they are part of his ministry in reaching the gentiles with the gospel. I look back at the churches I have and am a part of and realise that it is not just those involved in "up front" ministry who are doing the ministry, it is those behind the scenes including those who are 'only able to sit at home and pray for someone' or 'give a bit of money to help support a missionary'. It is these vital, precious saints who are partnering with those called to 'front-line' service who all together are building the kingdom of God and showing what the church can do when it gets it right.
Lord, help me to partner together for the sake of the Gospel. You do not call us to be one-man bands or lone soldiers. You call us together to reach the world. Let me seek out those who need my support and let me be open to those wanting to support me so that, together, we can create a network of partnerships. In Jesus' precious name, Amen.
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