Climbing Companions

“When Jesus saw His ministry drawing huge crowds, He climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to Him, the committed, climbed with Him. Arriving at a quiet place, He sat down and taught His climbing companions. This is what He said:
“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:1-3‬ ‭MSG‬‬

And the list continues….  we can be blessed just by changing perception, attitude and COMPANIONS!

Why companions?

Because if we have companions that are not willing to climb with us then how can they be defined as a person who is frequently in the company of, associates with, or accompanies another. A companion needs to go with you places. They will be a part of your journey. A companion should match you in some way. There should be a major driver that connects the relationship. Else, what is there to connect with? Especially if they are not willing to walk where you walk.

Jesus takes it to the highest level where He taught His climbing companions. Those that were apprenticed to His ministry and committed. It went beyond a relationship to divine purpose.

An apprentice is a person who works for another in order to learn a trade. There is an exchange. There is a give and a get. There is a trade off. There is work and building. You learn from each other. Nothing is one-sided. When there is a “companion” where there is no mutual exchange then that no longer defines a companion. It becomes toxic to your personal growth and progress because you keep distributing into a bag with empty wholes in it.

So we learn that so many associates or companions that we have sown into and got nothing in return in any aspect. Instead we get disdain, discord, pain, used and eventually abandoned. This will occur when there are instances where they couldn’t get ALL! They shout GIVE! And GIVE! And they themselves lost the overall concept of what giving is because they are blinded by their own needs.

“The leech has two daughters: “Give, give!” There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, “Enough!”:”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭30:15‬ ‭CEB‬‬

Apostle Paul said, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.”
‭‭II Timothy‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Now it was time to move on. There has to be a mutual exchange in relationships for growth. There is no one way. Rather than think, “How can they help me? What can they do for me? What can they say to me? What can they give me?” How about using effort to those that have and think, “How can I do this for them?” We even demand, “Change this, do that!” Have we done that too? Set the bar for change. Sow it.

This is a good way to find those companions that David mentioned…

“I am a companion of all who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:63‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

For the one who will fear and be reverent to the Lord will be an excellent companion! Those are the companions we need. Those that climb with you. Those that are packed, prepared, geared up and ready to go. Those that are willing to sweat and get themselves dirty. Those that are willing to commit.

How do you find those…. ask them, “Can you climb with me?”

Because we can’t always do that alone.