The twentieth century is known for its computers, the internet and networking, using modern technology. Here is a small snipped from the trusty, rusty internet referring to itself,
“The history of the Internet has its origin in the efforts of scientists and engineers to build and interconnect computer networks. The Internet Protocol Suite, the set of rules used to communicate between networks and devices on the Internet, arose from research and development in the United States and involved international collaboration, particularly with researchers in the United Kingdom and France.
A computer network is a set of computers sharing resources located on or provided by network nodes. Computers use common communication protocols over digital interconnections to communicate with each other.
The nodes of a computer network can include personal computers, servers, networking hardware, or other specialized or general-purpose hosts. They are identified by network addresses and may have host names.”
This is a portion of the engineers and scientists’ explanation of computer networks and networking.
Because of innovative technology, we now have what is called social networking. This is referring to connections we make by way of our computers, phones, tablets, watches, gizmos, and gadgets. The history of social media looks like this:
“Social media has become an integral part of all our lives. We use it to connect with friends and family, to catch up on current events, and, perhaps most importantly, to entertain ourselves. This is why just under 70 percent of Americans, and more than 2.6 billion active users globally, use social networking sites.”
The dictionary definition of ‘networking’ is, “the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions, specifically: the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business.” Synonyms or similar words are, relevance, socializing, collaborating, dealing, mingling, cooperating, interrelating, interacting, discussing, consulting, engaging, communicating, or conferring. Opposites known as antonyms could be, ignoring, isolating, separating, withdrawing, disconnecting, shunning, disengaging. None of these are unfamiliar words or concepts and did not just emerge in the last decade or two but have been around since the dawn of time.
People have always realized the benefits of networking and have always interacted and collaborated. Though it was all done without the assistance of computers, all the same synonyms still applied. We can look back at the old cowboys portrayed in the movies and see how they networked. They were living in small developing towns where everyone knew everyone. Because of this they built a rapport with others that became beneficial to themselves and the other party. They knew the store owners, the farmers co-op owners, the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick makers, and their neighbors next door or a ranch over. If any one of them were to get in trouble or be in need, they could count on the other for help and support. If the wheel fell off the neighbor’s wagon, they would be there to assist as soon as they got the news because of the relationship of interacting, cooperating, and conferring that they had.
My husband and I pastored a church in Indiana for over nineteen years, as well as in other locations, and we have noticed a trend wherever you go. People will always come to the church when they want to ask for help. It could be for gas, money, food, work, you name it. Often, they have burned bridges to family and friends, and they have no one they can turn to. They have not built a network around themselves that could function as a safety net in their time of need. Many of them live like nomads, roaming here and there, couch surfing from one house to the other, and have left a bad taste in people’s mouths. When we ostracize everyone, disengage, and hold others at arm’s length all the time, we will find ourselves alone. We began to have people coming to the church asking us to do their wedding ceremonies. My husband, thinking this was the Christian thing to do, would oblige them by allowing them to use the church, and he would perform the marriage ceremony at no cost. However, the problem we ran into was that because they did not know us, our church, or the saints of the church, they did not respect us or the property. They had no regard or allegiance to God; therefore, things began to get thrashed, and we began to be taken advantage of.
It did not take us too long to learn our lesson, and after convening with the church board they decided that there would be a charge for anyone to use the facilities, for any damage caused by them, and for any services rendered. Low and behold, would you believe, we did not have that problem much longer once those stipulations were introduced. They just wanted a handout and did not want to build a relationship. Since that time, I have always advised people to find themselves a church home of their own, become engaged and a part of them, and it will in essence become an extended family, even if their own family has abandoned them. Of course, it is understood, the God of the church, is your best bet when looking for help in life, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Networking is communication between two entities. If you make yourself a part of something greater than yourself, such as a community, a club, or a church, you will have others to fall back on when you are in need or hit a bump in the road of life. You will have a group of solid friends who know and love you. By participating in events that everyone is interested in, it takes the focus off yourself, and gives you a greater sense of belonging. I saw a short clip recently from a doctor who stated that it is clinically proven that those who are diagnosed with depression are those who are always thinking about and focused on themselves. If you have them write a paragraph you will see the words I, and me, and mine throughout. When we learn to focus our attention on others, we become more fulfilled ourselves. So, the saying, “It’s not who you are, but who you know,” may hold water after all. Name dropping can certainly be done out of arrogance, and can be very annoying; however, if we use wisdom, it can be beneficial in networking in business or corporate meetings, and life.
Ezra was a scribe and a priest of God in the Old Testament, and anyone who has ever been involved in the ministry can probably make the assertion that he did not have much money to speak of. Ministers are on a tight budget and are at the mercy of the people. The tithing according to scripture is designed for the ministry, and the offerings for the expenses of the church, such as maintenance, facility expenses, any materials or office supplies needed, and activities. Luke 10:7 says, “…the laborer is worthy of his hire.” Ezra had a great desire to restore the word of God back to the temple. Zerubbabel had completed the newly rebuilt temple, yet with opposition and harassment. The same went for the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem by Nehemiah. Maybe witnessing their tenacious determination, along with his love for the one true God of Israel, gave him the courage to pursue this vision for the people of God. Through their stories, he also saw how God used the king of the land to fulfill His will.
This networking story begins in Ezra 1:1-3, “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.”Ultimately the king gathered the finances needed to do the job, and Zerubbabel became the project manager, gathered men and though it was halted because of opposition for over 16 years, they resumed building by decree of King Darius, who succeeded King Cyrus, and saw it through. Zerubbabel got King Darius to sign a decree to allow them to finish the temple, by having him search for the former decree from King Cyrus as proof that they were doing it under the authority of royal mandate. In Ezra 6:12 King Darius stated, “And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.”
Then in Ezra 7 we see Ezra come on the scene, “Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah…went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given, and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him. And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king…For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of his statutes to Israel. Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time. I make a decree…” It goes on to tell Ezra to go up to Jerusalem, and to take anyone he wants to with him, preach and teach the word of the God of heaven to all who will listen, and provides him the needed finances for sacrifices, maintenance on the temple and its vessels, and to use the excess as he sees fit. He gave Ezra authority to set up magistrates and judges over the people according to the law of his God, stating that anyone who would not obey it would be punished by imprisonment. Ezra states in vs 27, “Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem: And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.”
When Ezra arrived in Judea with his entourage, he found that the people of Israel had turned away from God, and there was much turmoil and strife; however, after thirteen years of working to turn the people back to God, Nehemiah 8:1-8 gives us this beautiful conclusion, “And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spoke unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for this purpose… And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up: And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting of their hands: and they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.”
Ezra knew he could not accomplish this lofty task of turning the people back to God by himself or without going through the proper channels. He needed to network and get the king on his side and get the decree in writing. So, he summoned his courage and simply asked. James 4:2 tells us, “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” If God gave favor to Ezra, why would he not to us as well, and turn the hearts of those in authority in our day to do His will? Note that ministers, such as Ezra was in his day, are not exempt from obeying the laws of the land. This is clearly taught in scripture; therefore, why not network, aka be in communication with those in power, and see the will of God performed in a proper and positive way in our communities and nation. Just throwing in a quick networking tip.
When we pray and seek the Lord, he will send us to the right place and people at the right time to answer our requests. Ezra acknowledges in his written book, that the success was God’s doing, not his. Jesus stated in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Networking is a two way street, we give what we have whether it is just an offer of friendship, or service, and the Lord will use others to give back to us whatever we need. This verse is not saying that what we receive will be the same thing we have given, but in the proportion with which we give, the same measurement will be used in the reciprocating.
When the King of kings is on our side, we cannot go wrong. We must acknowledge that it is because of him that we receive any good thing, or we are able to accomplish any measure of success in our lives. Once again James tells us in James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” There are no coincidences in the lives of a Christian. God can turn the hearts of people to work things in our favor if necessary. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Here is a short story to illustrate this point, “There was a devout old woman who always praised God despite her circumstances. The old woman had a neighbor who was an atheist who was rather fond of mocking the old woman of her spirituality. The old woman went into financial difficulties one day. As she was praying in her house for God to come to her aid, the atheist thought of a plan to mock the old lady for her belief. He bought groceries and left them outside the door of the old woman’s house. Then, he knocked a few times on the door, and quickly went to hide behind a bush and observe what happened. The old lady opened the door, and upon seeing the groceries, gave praise verbally to God for what she thought was an act of divine providence. The atheist neighbor sprang up to his feet, and remarked, “Aha! You silly woman, it was me who placed the food there and not God.” The old lady was undeterred and sang even more praise, saying “Praise God for providing, and even making an atheist pay for it!” God is sovereign and it behooves us to have him on our side.
Romans 8:31-32 states, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” The religious world had come against the apostles who were preaching Jesus, but ultimately had to come to this conclusion which we read in Acts 5:38-39, “And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” When we have been sent by the King’s decree, we are collaborating with his authority, and we have nothing to fear. Sometimes we will have to name drop. Colossians 3:17 tells us, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
However, the opposite is also true. We must be careful not to name drop if we have no association with someone. We must be sure our relationship is solid and that we have been in communication with the King. Acts 19:13-18 tells this story, “Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, we adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.”
No one is an island unto himself, we need each other not only for assistance but for fellowship in the faith. However, it does not matter how well you are known in your community, or who you know in your organization, if you do not have a relationship with the Lord, you cannot succeed. We need to cultivate our relationship with the Him, and be known of Him, so that in our time of need we have someone to turn to. He can and will dispatch a heavenly host to work on our behalf when we ask, believing. When we have joined forces with the King of kings and the Lords of lords, we are guaranteed victory, and the enemy will be defeated.