To be alone is weakness, but, in unity there is strength. To be stronger, people create partnerships in marriage as well as in business.
If you start a business with a partner who has no money and no skills, he is not much help to you. You must do most of the work alone. But, if you form a partnership with someone who has means, power, ability, and skill, your business will be successful even if you yourself are lacking these things.
Therefore, people who plan to get married or start a business, often are very careful in selecting their partners. However, many are disappointed. The partner they chose proved not to be so great, but was rather a hindrance—someone that in the beginning looked so good, like pure gold.
Many spend years looking for a perfect partner, and some never find one. The best of men may let you down, and disappoint you. However, if you want to find the perfect life partner or business partner, there is only one, and that is God Himself.
You may ask, “Is He willing to go into partnership with me?” “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3
It is not us so much we desiring to be in partnership with God; it is He that actually desires to be in partnership with us. Jesus left heaven to come to this sinful world to seek us, to save us, to come into a partnership with us. We should consider that it is a great honour to have the company of Jesus. It is a wonderful experience!
What does this partnership bring to us?
Two disciples were very disappointed and cast down. Suddenly they met Jesus and after talking with Him for a while, what happened? “And it came to pass, as He sat at meat with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?” Luke 24:30–32
Their tiredness and depression was gone. They were filled with joy and happiness.
Jesus said, All power in heaven and earth is given Me, and, lo, I am with you all the way. (Matthew 28:20). He also said, take My yoke upon you. My yoke is easy, my burden is light (Matthew 11:29–30). He will carry most of the burden so that it will feel easy and light to us.
“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” John 1:14. Once we receive Him, He gives us power.
What does He tell us next? “And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13. What friend do you have who tells you, “anything you ask for, I will give you”?
“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” Matthew 6:25. Take no thought and do not worry or be anxious for the necessities of life.
“Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” Psalm 91:9–10. We are assured protection from evil, from the plague. We are safe.
What are we reassured by, even in the time of trouble? “He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.” Isaiah 33:16. God will be our defense and He will provide for us.
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18. All our sins are forgiven, and they are cast into the depths of the sea.
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11. Not only do we have the future promise of happiness, we can have joy in the present time.
“God setteth the solitary in families: He bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.” Psalm 68:6. Those who are lonely and single, He will find them a family.
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9. Far beyond the capabilities of the imagination will be the splendor that awaits those who love Him and believe on Him.
In the end, we will cry as did David, “My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:5–6
Yes, how can it be that a Christian who has made a covenant with God and entered into a partnership with Him, does not have power or perfect peace? His face does not shine with happiness. All he does goes wrong as if there is a curse upon him. He looks worried, sad, and depressed. Clearly something has gone wrong.
This is because partnership with God means doing things together, having the same interests, talking and planning together, working together, loving one another.
Now, how could it work if you want Christ to be your partner, but you do not agree?
One day you may say, I want to go to a party, to a movie, or you simply want to stay home, and then Christ tells you: I want to go to a prayer meeting. Christ would not miss the meeting for any reason. Then there would be a separation. You would go your way, and Christ would go to church. Then you would lose His company and feel miserable again.
Or then, you are sitting in your living room with Christ, and you say: I want to listen to some popular music or rock music. Christ wants to listen to sacred music. That would mean a separation. He would leave your room and go where He can listen to religious music, and you are alone again.
Then, what if you want to read a book, and Christ tells you, let us read the Bible together, but you say, no, I would rather read this worldly novel. Christ must leave again.
Christ is constantly asking you, His partner, “Let us go and do missionary work, visit people.” You say, “No, I would rather stay home and watch television.” Christ will go out and you will be alone again.
Then you sit down to eat. Christ is at your table, but the food that is set on it is not wholesome, or healthy. He cannot bless it. He cannot join you, and you must eat alone.
If you then want to invest money in speculation, in the stock market, or lottery tickets, Sister White states that God will curse your investment, and you will lose your money.
You may want to start a business of buying and selling, and so you ask Christ to join you, and to bless your work. But then you try to deceive others in what you are selling, asking for a higher price than it is worth. Or you deceive in customs duties, in income tax returns. Do you think Christ will join with you in your work or business and bless you if it is not done honestly? Even a little dishonesty, and He will have no part in it. You lose the blessing and you lose His company.
He tells you, “Give, and it shall be given unto you.” Luke 6:38. But if you try to take advantage of others, certainly you will not be given by God, nor will you
prosper.
“And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. . . . And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.” Genesis 39:3, 5. Because Joseph was in partnership with God, all that he did prospered. There was a blessing upon it.
“And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not Thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.” Job 1:8–10
God had blessed Job. But now he was put to a test. “But put forth Thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.” Job 1:11
How did Job react to the test put upon him, when he lost all that God had given him? “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:10. Job did not curse God. Instead he prayed for those who tried to discourage him.
The Lord is able to bless us and prosper us as He did with Job, when it is for our good. However, God also knows that prosperity can often cause some to become unfaithful to Him. In this case, He will not give them all things, because He wants to save them.
Do you wonder why it is that God does not bless you more? “Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:9–10
Have you been faithful in paying your tithes and offerings? Again, it is your decision, whether you choose a curse or a blessing. God is willing to open the windows of heaven, and pour out a blessing to you, His partner. But if you do not return to Him what is His, He will not bless you and you will be the loser in the end.
If you make a plan to hurt someone in revenge for the hurt done to you, and wish harm to come to them, Christ has no part in your plans. Let us read a few Bible verses as examples of the consequence of wishing harm to someone else. “Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit God turned the curse into a blessing.” Nehemiah 13:2. “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:3. “Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.” Proverbs 26:27
If you make plans on Sabbath for work or business, Christ cannot be your Sabbath guest and your plans will have a curse upon them. If you go and sleep for most of the Sabbath day, Christ will go on and leave you alone again.
Christ is very sensitive, very polite. He will not force His way into your home. You must invite Him. “And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and He made as though He would have gone further. But they constrained Him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And He went in to tarry with them.” Luke 24:28–29. Had they not invited Him in, He would have passed by.
We see the example of the Samaritans, “And they did not receive Him, because His face was as though He would go to Jerusalem.” Luke 9:53. Many miss His company by not inviting Him in.
If you neglect your morning prayer you may have to go through your day without His company. Or, if you neglect your evening prayer, you will pass through the night alone.
Christ, your partner, knows the way you should go. He leads you all throughout your life, and finally into heaven. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. If you complain about the hardships on the way, you are complaining about His leading. You say that, “The Lord is my Shepherd, but He leads me the wrong way.” He will then leave you alone, as you are choosing your own way if you are not satisfied with His leading.
Christ is very religious, He will be present in every meeting in the church. He will not stay home with you when a meeting is announced. He wants to talk about the Bible, heaven, and salvation. If you like to think and talk about worldly things, He leaves you alone. Thus, many professed Christians are total strangers to Christ. They may have done miracles and wonders, but Christ will tell them, “I never knew you. Depart from Me.” Matthew 7:23. They never created a partnership with Christ.
Jesus is walking on the narrow pathway that leads unto life. If you choose the broad road, your ways will part. You cannot continue together. Therefore, it is the duty of the members in God’s church to bring men and women back into partnership with Christ, to teach others to live in His company, to walk with Him, and work with Him.
Many Christians are deceived by counterfeits. There is someone called the antichrist, the false Christ. And he has many followers. He looks like Christ. He imitates Him in many ways. And he is with you in your sinful practices, in the wrong places you go. He joins with you in deception. With him you do not need to keep the Ten Commandments. Yet he promises you heaven. He flatters you, how good you are, and you will become very proud of yourself. In his company, you will soon look down on others.
Remember, you cannot serve two masters. If you are not serving God, you are serving the antichrist, Satan. If you are not in partnership with God, you are in partnership with Satan. Many do not enjoy the company of Christ. They like the company of the antichrist much more.
Do you feel natural in the company of Jesus or are you uneasy and nervous? Are you glad when He is gone again and you can do what you like, read what you like, listen to your kind of music, speak freely on the subjects you enjoy?
Those who have chosen to be partners with God, to walk daily with Christ, develop a beautiful friendship. But you must keep your part of the covenant agreement. When God sent Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt, He did not send him alone. Moses said, “I cannot speak and I am not able to do it.” God gave Moses the words to speak, He gave Aaron to speak for Him, a staff with which to perform miracles, and plagues to subdue the Egyptians.
Throughout the wilderness journey, Christ was in the pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day to lead them. Manna came from God to provide food. Water came from the rocks. There was no sickness among them. Their clothes did not wear out.
What did Moses do? He and Christ did it together. With God, that which Moses thought was impossible turned out to be easy.
Also, your life will change completely when Christ is your partner. Everything becomes so easy, and you enjoy His company so much that you will be very careful not to hurt His feelings, or to offend Him. You will not to do anything that would separate you from Him.
Three men in Babylon were not afraid to be cast into the fiery furnace when Christ was with them. Daniel had no fear in the lion’s den. Paul and Silas sang praises to God in the prison cell because Christ was with them.
Do not spend one moment away from His company, learn of Him, study His word the Bible, and copy Him. Then throughout all eternity, this partnership and friendship will continue between you and Christ. Amen.
Adapted from a sermon by Timo Martin