Purpose Partners: The 4 Vital Ingredients

Can two people walk together without first agreeing on the direction? Amos 3:3 NLT

Besides God, who is more influential than the people you keep close?

Is anyone else passionately praying for God to bring purpose partners into your life? You know, people who inspire and motivate you. The ones who broaden your limited perspective and sharpen your mind. People you genuinely enjoy being with, who are specifically intended to be a catalyst and/or collaborator to whatever good thing(s) you’re putting out into this world. These people beautifully add to the landscape of your life in some way that is specific to you and where you’re headed. Doesn’t that sound divine!?

WHERE THEY AT, LORD!?

These are people who are God-ordained to walk with you! Together, you two walk different. Together, there’s a little more sauce and seasoning on the both of you and/or whatever you’re doing together. Whether they’re in friendship, business partnership, romantic relationship, and/or familial relationships, I’m passionately praying for God to bring/reveal these people to me. Can you imagine what a purpose partner looks like for you in each of the categories I listed? When I envision purpose partner dynamics, these essential elements immediately come to mind:

Harmony & Cohesion

How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! Psalms 133:1

I think we can all nod our heads in agreement that when you and someone else are aligned in the same direction or share the same values, theres a stronger sense of unity and harmony between you. Unity and understanding just makes everything flow more effortlessly. You won’t need to invest so much time and energy translating yourself because you’ll naturally understand and complement each other. Not that you’ll be reading each others minds, or there wont be any conflict, but communication is easier when you hold similar values and have a parallel style of heading toward whatever it is that you two are heading toward. Things that might be difficult with someone else is a little more easy-breezy with them!

Friction

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17 NLT

Okay, you might be thinking, “Diamond, you just said we would be harmonious and cohesive. What do you mean there’s going to be friction!? And how much friction are we talking?” Let’s be real, there will be some friction. How will iron sharpen iron with no friction!? This isn’t the homegirl/homeboy you just go to the club with, or link up just to go out to eat with. We’re talking about purpose partners; this is not surface-level. I know; we hate friction. We hate discord and discomfort, but I have a feeling that purpose partners will unintentionally create some of this. Please don’t confuse friction with drama! I’m not talking about anything toxic or destructive. The type of friction a purpose partner will cause is the kind that causes you to expand and grow. You will challenge each others thoughts and perceptions, you’ll broaden each others horizons, & probably humble each other in ways that might feel uncomfortable at first. This friction is all for our benefit!

Leadership & Followership

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.” Matthew 20:25-27 NLT

In order to be a leader, you must serve. And in order for anyone to lead you, they must serve you too. We all have gifts and talents in certain areas, right? I envision a beautiful balance of leading and following each other within purpose partner dynamics. You have things that you’re naturally gifted in, that you can lead and teach, and your purpose partner(s) may need you to lead them in that area. Vise versa, they can lead and mold you in the areas that they are gifted in. Let’s just say there will be give and take; a time to stand up and a time to sit back, and you’ll be continuously upgrading each other as you lead and follow each other.

Motivation & Inspiration

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Hebrews 10:24 NLT

Lastly, a purpose partner is downright inspiring! There’s this cool exchange of energy that pushes both of you to level up in some way. Just interacting with them makes you want to be a better version of yourself and excel in your own ventures. There’s a mix of respect and admiration in the air when you’re collaborating or spending time with this person. Their way of navigating the world, the relationship, or the project/venture just influences you in a positive way!

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Whether you walk together for a season or for a lifetime, purpose partners are brought into your life for a reason. That reason is to refine and expand something(s) within you. I pray we all find and purpose partners in every aspect of our lives.