Networking - just a buzz word?

I remember building my first computer network, probably about 20 years ago. Tim brought the hardware and we spent the day, connecting my PC, the secretary’s PC, and a printer. Now, my PC is networked to millions of computers, worldwide, on the Internet. Networking is for more than computers. I belong to several different networks; the Assemblies of God, my local church, and several working groups.

Are you networking? Solomon observes that "A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:12, NLT)  A web of friends and partners does not just create itself. We have to work to form and maintain connections with others. The return makes the time invested well spent. We gain the joy of friendship as well as becoming many times more effective in our work.

I’m not always good at building networks because I can become too focused on the outcome to appreciate the process.  I know it is important to give others the opportunity to 'buy in' and become a part of the effort, but,  I am tempted just to get the job done.  Why not just do it alone?  Because what works in the short-term hinders, perhaps even destroys the long-term results.  When people are encouraged to tie in to the network, to be involved meaningfully in the process; the end result will be more creative, have more longevity, and find broader acceptance. That is true no matter what social structure we are thinking of - family, neighborhood, church, corporation, or government.

So, if the advantages of networking are so obvious, why don't more of us get connected?

By definition, networks limit our autonomy! When we become part of a network, we give up some of our rights to just be ourselves. We have to start to think 'we' as a higher value than 'me.' Human nature resists genuine networking because of a sin as old as Eden - selfishness. The devil's lie is - "Express yourself. Do your own thing. It's the only way to be happy." God's truth is - "Give yourself away. Serve and love, and you will discover joy!"

Here's a word from the Word about becoming part of the Spirit’s network.
"Make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose." (Philippians 2:2, NLT)

 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,... taking the nature of a servant." (Philippians 2:3-7, NIV)

Now, that’s REAL networking.