Your Alliances Are Intended For A Divine Purpose

One of Orchard: Africa's corporate funders asked me what an "ideal alliance" between the corporate world and the non-profit sector should look like.

We chatted and discussed this concept for a while. We looked at some outstanding alliances such as those between corporations and professional sport.   We discussed how financial alliances have turned sport into what it is today - an amateur game turned professional by financial backing and as the saying goes, “the rest is history”.  Then we thought of how much could be achieved if corporations sponsored "good works" to the same extent they sponsor sport games.  I am happy to say that we are starting to see the corporate world step up to the plate of social involvement although nowhere near the extent of corporate sports sponsorship.The idea of "alliance" intrigues me.   It occurs to me that God has entered into an alliance with us.God is totally committed to:

• Our relationship with Him and
• Our relationship with one another.

We are in alliance with God and with each other.    We are united together for a joint purpose.  His purpose!Surely this then is the "ideal alliance":  God – me – others.All around, I see God at work through alliances such as:

• Individuals with their family.
• Families with their church.
• Churches with their communities.
• Communities of churches with the “uttermost parts of the world”.

The way I see it, to truly fulfill God’s purposes, I should be in an alliance with others in some way or another.  To be out there on my own is a dangerous place to be (not to mention a very lonely place).  With all my heart I believe in God-connections.  God-alliances.To these alliances, I have a responsibility to bring:

• My unique personality - with its ego turned down a few notches.
• My skills and abilities - with a willingness to offer them sacrificially and without being a know-it-all.
• My giftings - with humility, remembering that these giftings don’t originate from me.
• My encouragement – with the intent to help lighten the load for others by infusing the task at hand with joy and peace and kindness.

What I'm not intended to bring:

• Criticism - constant criticism breaks down.  I need to offer grace to imperfect people.
• Control - it's not about me or my way.  Team work and co-operation are better building blocks.
• Conflict - which chips away at enthusiasm and is demoralising. God has called me to be a peacemaker.

So here's a thought that struck me:What we can achieve together in Godly alliances is the stuff history is made of.With this in mind I had to stop and ask myself:

• Am I currently a part of history-in-the-making?
• Am I prayerfully seeking out those God-connections?
• Am I willing to do what it takes to add value to these God-alliances?
• Am I willing to offer my gifting but do so with a servant's heart at the same time?

Here's a question I want to ask you.  I don't need to know the answer but you do.Do you recognise God-connections in your life and what are you doing to add value to them?