On Partnership
By David Gill
In the Genesis accounts of creation, we read over and over that what God created was “good” and even “very good.” But at one important place, we hear God saying something is “not good.” “It is not good that man should dwell alone” (Gen 2:18). God had given Adam the work tasks of cultivating and protecting the earth, of naming (organizing) the animals, of using his freedom wisely—“but for Adam no suitable helper was found.” So God created woman alongside man, made of the same human essence, made equally in the image and likeness of God.
The creation of man and woman can teach us a whole lot, but here is one important takeaway: we need a partnership, a team, to do our work well. Certainly, an important lesson is also that we need both men and women participating to get good work done. But this is not just about male and female, it’s about human partnership. Moses needed Aaron. Deborah and Barak needed each other. David needed Jonathan. And in a decisive phrase, “Jesus sent his disciples out two-by-two” (Luke 10:1)—not one-by-one. Paul had Barnabas. Priscilla had Aquila. Of course, partnerships could be three—like Peter, James, and John—or more. The point is partnership rather than isolated individuality. That’s the way God planned it.
In the simplest terms, we need partnership for two reasons: discernment and support. We need a partner or two or three to help us figure out what to do. And we need them to help us carry out what is right and best. Casual partnership formation is helpful when it happens—but intentional, covenantal, committed partnership is best of all. Face-to-face, side-by-side, week-by-week interactive partnership in the workplace or after hours somewhere else (with sharing, conversation, prayer, maybe even some study)—that’s what we’re talking about.
As technology, remote work, and freelance work often separate us from ongoing relationships, this “two-by-two” stuff is more challenging and important than ever. Let’s reach out intentionally to those still near us but let’s also telephone, text, Zoom, and e-mail our colleagues, brothers, sisters, and friends. Let’s share what is going on, our fears and hopes, our challenges and blessings. Let’s pray for each other, not just while talking together but daily on our own. Let’s form and reinforce our workplace discipleship posse and we will be wiser and stronger than we could ever be on our own.
David W. Gill (www.davidwgill.org) is an Oakland-based writer and speaker on Christian ethics and workplace/business ethics. He served forty years as an ethics professor at New College Berkeley, North Park University, St. Mary’s College, and Gordon-Conwell Seminary and is the author of ten books, most recently What Are You Doing About It? The Memoir of a Marginal Activist (2022) and Workplace Discipleship 101: A Primer (2020).
