Considering Partnering?

The Holy Bible

Don't become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That's not partnership; that's war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God's holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way:

    "I'll live in them, move into them;

    I'll be their God and they'll be my people.

    So leave the corruption and compromise;

    leave it for good," says God.

    "Don't link up with those who will pollute you.

    I want you all for myself.

    I'll be a Father to you;

    you'll be sons and daughters to me."

    The Word of the Master, God.

(Bible Translation and Location: The Message – 2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

Thoughts:

I'm trying to picture the mindset of most of my readers. Let me guess what you would do in this scenario: You are selling your home, or any large ticket item. Up walks an ordinary looking guy who tells you that he is a millionaire and wants to buy your home. You immediately go to find the keys while he is writing you a check, right? If you haven't already closed out this blog, you are probably about to do it, because this sounds like such a silly scenario. Bear with me friend, because there really isn't much difference between that silly example than some of the choices we make in our partnerships. Imagine a city girl, Christian choir member type girl, deciding to marry (partner with) a hunter who has never seen a church door. She might obviously feel like she will change that boy into the same image her dad always had of a successful Christian businessman type son-in-law! But imagine the first trip to the woods when the hunter and his buddies are relaxing around the fire drinking their beers and telling dirty jokes. Does that fit into the lifestyle this young lady was used to and is striving to maintain? Will it serve to strengthen her relationship with the Lord? It's like mixing water and oil, they just don't mix. Oh the things that we often pollute the Holy Spirit of God with. Now this is an example in marriage, but what about those cases where we make business partnerships along these same lines. The Christian partner should stand for honesty and integrity in every facet of the business. Is he not placing himself in a position for constant fights with a non-Christian partner who only cares about the bottom line, and will stop at nothing to keep the business as profitable as possible, while reporting to taxing authorities as little as he could stay out of jail with? Paul found it important enough to warn his church members about such decisions. God thought it was important enough to include this in His Word to warn Christians today, because He knew that we would be faced with such decisions. So let's pay attention to the Word Brothers and Sisters. God has provided it as our instruction book that would lead us to all truth, and as near to His perfection as we can possible become here on earth. Are you taking notes and following ALL aspects of His Word, or just the portions that feel good and bring good results for you? God wants our wholehearted attention, dedication and commitment friend, are you willing to go the distance for Him?
 
Prayer:

Lord, we make such silly mistakes in the name of success and purported riches. Please help us daily to understand that our riches are in the blessed hope of ultimately being in heaven with our loving Father one day, sitting at His feet, and singing unending praises to, and glorifying, Him. To get there with the fewest bumps and bruises, please help us to stay focused and determined as Your children while blessed with limitless opportunities here on planet earth. Please direct us to the opportunities that will ultimately bring glory to You and not selfishly focus on the potential earthly riches to ourselves. Please constantly keep our lost family, friends and coworkers foremost in our minds and in our prayers so that we can one day rejoice in seeing them join us in glory with you. Please give us obedient minds so that we may always honor Your Word and serve You to our fullest potential. These things I ask in the precious name of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, AMEN!

 
FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day's devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL!