Striving for unity in a world that doesn't know it
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In elementary school I remember a line on the report card that said "Works well with others." Do you remember that? Hopefully most of us got an S or S+ on that line. What kind of grade would you get today if you were being graded on "Works well with others"? I believe most of us would disappoint our teacher with our score. That's what collaboration is really – right? Working well with others?
In your job what does it really look like to collaborate, and does it really matter? Does it matter for the Kingdom? Is Collaboration related to cooperation? Did Jesus call for us to collaborate, cooperate, or just fulfill the great commission? Am I ever going to stop asking questions and bring some answers?
In our work:
The iWork4Him Nation encourages its members to put Christ in first place at work. They work like they're working for the Lord (Col. 3:23). Their excellence in teamwork leads others to enjoy working together. They also build relationships of trust at work, which can then lead to deeper conversations about life and who we are in Christ. It's like a circle that keeps on growing. We work well with others in our work, and the Kingdom grows. Let's try to get an S+ for "Works well with others."
For the Kingdom:
Jesus was clear in John 17:20-21 that unity would cause the world to believe in Him. He said, "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me."
Imagine a kind of unity so profound that the world believes in Jesus. What will it take to bring that kind of unity to fruition within the body of Christ? Can you imagine what unparalleled selfless collaboration and cooperation could look like? That is my dream!
The Cambridge Dictionary defines collaboration as "The situation of two or more people working together to create or achieve the same thing."
Cambridge defines cooperation as "The act of working together with someone or doing what they ask you." Based on the Cambridge definitions and what Jesus said on unity, I would say that collaboration andcooperation are desperately needed to bring about unity in the body of Christ.
And what did Jesus say would happen when we have that kind of unity? The world will believe! Listen, the people we work with need Jesus. Collaboration and cooperation would go a long way to unite the 300,000 churches and the 84,706 Christian Non-profits in America and make salvation known.
Collaboration for the Kingdom involves bringing together Christ followers committed to excellence. What does that look like? A group of selfless, team players, humble, driven by Jesus' mission, and not intimidated by other collaborators who run in the same lane.
A potluck is successful because everyone brings their favorite dish, made with love and the best ingredients. When you put all the special dishes together you get a fantastic meal.
Kingdom collaboration is possible when Christ followers come together with their gifts, talents, and abilities and put it all on the table and say, "This is what I have, can this help any of the rest of you?" This makes for fantastic unity that the world doesn't even know.
The Awaken Podcast Network is an example of Collaboration in the Kingdom where over 110 voices of the faith and work movement have been gathered together to proclaim in unity that "Your Workplace is your mission field and your primary place of ministry outside of your home."
So, practice collaboration today with other Christ-followers who want the same things as you but can't get them accomplished without you. It's been 2,000 years since Jesus spoke the words in John 17. It's high time we focused on bringing them to fulfillment with the Holy Spirit's help. If we can do this, we might just earn an S+ for "Works well with others."
 | Jim Brangenberg is an established leader in the faith and work movement who has over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur and business owner. In 2013, God called him and his wife, Martha, to begin the iWork4Him Talk Show, where they have had the privilege of challenging thousands across the globe with the simple message that your workplace is your mission field. In addition, he and Martha have co-authored a series of collaborative books, iWork4Him, sheWorks4Him, and iRetire4Him. Learn More » |
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