Invest In Kingdom Partnerships

For the past few weeks, we’ve looked at six different relational categories for ways we can cast our bread and invest in others. These have included our relationship with God, family, close friends, disciples, the overlooked, and doubters. Today, we arrive at the final one—kingdom partnerships.

This is one that’s especially important to me, given my occupation. Writing can be a lonely profession. Believe me. As someone who writes for a living, I spend a lot of hours behind a desk or in a coffee shop editing manuscripts and writing devotionals.  

If you’ve ever attempted to write your own book, you know the feeling of isolation. A few good cups of coffee might get you through the first few chapters, but when you hit the marathon of the middle of your manuscript, that’s when the loneliness and questions start to creep in.

Is this worth my effort? Am I even writing something that is of value? Haven’t other authors written books on this same topic that are much better? Will any publisher accept my work? And if you’re not careful, your doubts can lead you to give up on your project altogether. But that’s why it’s important to build strong relationships with other writers.

This is one of the reasons I’ve hosted a weekly podcast for the past several years. There is something rewarding about interacting with other people who are doing what I do and learning from their wisdom and mistakes. It helps me know I’m not alone.

Teaming up with others who share your passions is important. No, I’m not talking about building more friends or mentoring relationships. I’m talking about engaging peers who are either at your same level or a few steps ahead. And by teaming up with them, you strengthen each other.

Three Kinds of Partnerships

This focus on partnership reminds me of my life’s mission statement: I want to do those things in life that matter by running with others who want to make a difference.

Partnership is tricky. It’s more work than running alone. But the long-term personal and collective benefits can be extraordinary. In some ways, this should come as no surprise. Generally, when God works in the hearts of his people, he always calls a person, unites them with another, and gives them a task.

When we look back on the ways God has used men and women in human history, there is always a pattern. Take the first man, Adam. At first, it’s just him and God. But then, Eve enters the picture, and together, they are instructed to partner by being fruitful and multiplying.

When God chooses to deliver his chosen people out of the nation of Egypt, God takes Moses, connects him with his brother Aaron, and together they approach Pharoah. God anoints David to be king but uses others like Samuel and Nathan to speak truth into his life. The Apostle Paul is commissioned to preach the good news of Christ, but he is linked with others like Barnabas and Peter.

Three Types of Partnerships

Partnerships are always messy because in partnering with others we’re lending a piece of our credibility and reputation. And we certainly do not want to partner with just anyone. If someone has completely different values and goals than us, it’s often fruitless to try and find common ground.

But in most instances, this is not the case, and there are overlapping points of perspective. The key is to identify what type of partnership we are entering and establish proper expectations. Here are three primary partnerships that work.