What makes a good partnership? It depends on whom you ask. Some say like-minded people can be good partners; others say those who have opposite personalities (and thereby complement each other) are the best partners to have. But what does scripture teach us about being partners in life and love?
At first, God made animals for the man so he would not be alone. While the animals provided companionship, none proved to be suitable as a partner. So, God went back to the drawing board, so to speak, and created a woman. As the man says, “This one is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” In other words, a good partner is like us yet complements us. Moreover, a good partner does not always agree with us but instead offers alternative viewpoints that help us clarify our own belief system. Someone who partners with us wants us to become better at who we are and, in the process, helps themself become better, as well.
Think of the various partnerships over the years: The Beatles, Jobs and Wozniak, Torvill and Dean, Watson and Crick, Laurel and Hardy, to name a few. When you read their stories, you realize that different people came together to create something innovative. They had a common goal but very different perspectives on life. They didn’t always agree, but they recognized that the result was the reason for their partnership, and that’s what mattered.
What is the goal of our existence? Those with whom we partner, whether as friends, colleagues, or spouses, are fellow travelers on the journey to achieve that final goal. They assist us in becoming the person God has called us to be. Instead of seeing others as adversaries in our lives, view them as potential partners to enable the achievement of heaven’s glory.
