Don’t settle for less, #07: Don’t relentlessly collaborate

Don't relentlessly collaborate.  It’s the seventh in a series of traits for successful people in the secular world that we’re looking at.  However, we’re also seeing how these same traits can be applied to becoming a “successful” Christian.  Someone who not only has an idea what Christianity is really about, but who also lives it.  Finally, who also does the Great Commission and not what Dallas Willard calls the Great Omission. Don’t settle for less, #07: Don't relentlessly collaborate is article #9 in the series: Settling for less. Click button to view titles for entire series With that in mind, here’s the seventh, from 23 Things Successful People Never Do on bestlifeonline.com:

As anyone who has ever done a group project can tell you, collaboration is not always easy.  But successful people tend to know when it's a better idea to go it alone, or bring other individuals into the fold.  Maybe a project is in its early stages, and you'd be better off tinkering with it before getting others involved - or maybe the people you'd loop in would only make you less productive.  The key to success is knowing the difference.

Don't relentlessly collaborate as a "thing" for successful people seems to be at odds with being a successful Christian.  After all, what about church?  Bible study?  Small groups?  Christian community?  Aren't those all important things for a Christian?  In fact, these Christian community meetings are so important, the author of Hebrews wrote about it in a passage the NIV titles A Call to Persevere.

A Call to Persevere

Heb 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. ...

After bringing up things like drawing nearer to God, full assurance of faith, holding onto the Christian hope, and helping each other, the author writes:

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.

So meeting with other Christians is important.  Collaboration.  According to dictionary.com, that means the act of working with another or others on a joint project.  In this case, the joint project is all of the things in that passage we just read.  In short, maintaining and growing Christian faith.

With that in mind, why would a Christian not want to relentlessly collaborate?  Isn't more better?  More people helping each other?  Keeping each other accountable and on that narrow path?

Don't relentlessly collaborate- The key to success is knowing the difference

The last sentence from the excerpt is really important.  The key to success is knowing the difference.  The thing is, what's the deciding factor for choosing whether or not to collaborate?  The ideas for secular world collaboration are similar, in some ways, to what a Christian should look for.  But there are some specific things we're warned about in the Bible when it comes to "collaboration" - who to collaborate with. For instance:

A Tree and Its Fruit

Mt 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.