ALWAYS BETTER THAN ONE

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour" (Ecclesiastes 4:9). 

Recently, I heard someone say this in a meeting, "If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go with a company". That set me thinking about the value of positive partnering and relationships. The Bible says that two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labour. It seems to me that positive partnering is a ticket to good reward for the labour you put into any venture. If you are labouring without good results, consider going into a godly partnership. This is relevant for business, home and personal life. 

When God made man in the beginning, one of the very first lessons He taught man is the value of relationship. God seemed to have shown man that going it alone in this world would be both ineffective and dangerous. So, He brought man into a marriage relationship so that the two could together have a good reward for their labour. The divine agenda is that whereas one could chase a thousand, two people through partnering with one another will be able to put ten thousand to flight. Although Adam and Eve bungled it, that would not change the fact that God has ordained relationships and partnering as tools, not only to double our results, but in fact to multiply it in several folds. 

Having understood the value of partnering, finding the right partner becomes the next issue. It is good to analyse your needs, your strength and weaknesses, and then think of who you can best work with. But one key factor to observe here is that in the beginning God chose the right partner for man. The point then is that partnering, if it will be effective and productive, should not be entered into without consulting God. Don't just join your lot with another person based on your whims. Pray about it and ask God for direction. Remember that He sees what you don't see and knows what you don't know. God knows what you don't about the fellow you are thinking of partnering with. He sees what the future holds in store for both of you. 

When you have found the right partner or company to relate with, sustaining that relationship is the next critical thing you must give attention to. The basic problem most people have is that they are always looking for what to gain in a relationship. Nothing ruins partnerships or relationships like selfishness. When you are always out looking for your personal gains, your relationships will end up becoming problematic. The grand rule to nurture and sustain relationships is to arm yourself with the understanding that you are in it primarily to give. Tell yourself, "I am in this relationship to be a blessing". Yes, you may end up receiving the greater blessings, but never let it get out of your mind that you are here to be a blessing. Indeed, the extent of the blessings you will receive from any given relationship will ultimately depend on how much of a blessing you have been to that relationship.