I and two other friends of mine ventured together into a business as partners. Our latest partner had a concern that we might lose our friendship because he has seen a number of others whose relationship was rampage and destroyed because they ventured into a business together. This may be true to a number of business partnership but I totally disagree if it was going to be applied to every single partnership today. The concern was because prior to the conception of the business these individuals failed to follow a command given by Jesus Christ in relation to how we handle concerns affecting relationship whether casual or formal type of relationship.
The pattern can be found in the book of Matthew chapter 18 as presented below;
Matthew 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
Matthew 18:16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
Matthew 18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Knowing this principle, I shared this with my partners and gave specific example on how to protect our friendship together with the business partnership. I shared a hypothetical situation – For instance there is a thought that come to any of us that one of us is cheating us over finances then the way this must be handled in relation to the verses mentioned above. We required each member to directly tell the partner concern on a one-on-one basis. If someone will try to share such a feeling to another partner who is the concern the response of the other party would be to tell the other partner to stop and ask him to tell the person concern instead.
To follow the patter above this is how it should be handled. If there is doubt in person As’ heart towards person C then it is necessary for person A to inform person C about it in a manner that is constructive with the hope of enlightenment rather than discord towards the other party. If person C negatively responded to what person A informed him or her about then person A can bring person B and converse with person C on order to iron the cramp in the relationship. but worst case scenario that person C still did not positively approach the concern then it is time for person A together with person B to tell the rest of the concern individuals most like those who will be affected by the crisis.
This model given to us by Jesus Christ will surely create an atmosphere of coherence and cooperation between the partners and if this is adopted in the corporate setting there will be no relationship crisis to great to be settled.
The bottom line as we will interpret why Jesus would suggest such actions to be undertaken is because we have been commanded in Matthew 22:39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
At this point we have been enjoying the business and is continuously improving and diversifying to better the business and later affecting our personal lives.
Let me close this by saying to you our dear readers and followers – “I love you with the love of the Lord”.
Shalom!
MPM
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