Partnership in the Gospel

theidolbabbler

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”

I love the book of Ecclesiastes. It’s so straight forward, and it tells it like it is. It’s not half empty or half full, it’s just reality. These two verses got me thinking about friendship within the body. If you (Christians) don’t have a close friendship within the body, I urge you to seek such because it is the essence of discipleship, which we all need. Paul commends the Philippians in his letter to them regarding their “partnership in the Gospel”:

Philippians 1:1-5
“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

What a great definition of discipleship: a “partnership in the Gospel.” In other words, a partnership in the knowing of who God is and what He did.

Solomon describes, in the top scripture reference, that “two are better than one,” because ultimately, if either falls, “one will lift up his fellow.” And isn’t that the essence of friendship? But the even deeper bond, a “partnership in the Gospel,” is where our focus should be, as Paul commended the Philippians.

Jesus’ final command to us (Christians) was to make disciples (Matthew 28:16-20). This endeavor is the Great Commission. The Great Commission requires us to “lift up his fellow.” It requires us to have a “partnership in the Gospel.”

“But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”

The body is not meant to be alone, without friendship, and when a brother is alone, “woe to him.” When a brother is alone, there is no “partnership in the Gospel”, nor is there a chance of being lifted up. May we recognize the importance of such.

Godspeed, to the brethren!

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Published by theidolbabbler