Acts 11 - good co-workers

好同工。

It is not easy to find a good co-worker.

Someone who is not necessarily like you in terms of work habits, but someone whose work style is a good fit to yours.

Or maybe someone who can bear with your idiosyncrasies and you can put up with his.

But most importantly, someone who has the same goal as you, the same destination that both of you want to reach. Because with the same goal in mind, any differences or mismatch or conflict can be ironed out. It is still possible to work together, for that same end.

A good co-worker is also probably one who can share your sentiments on various issues. Someone who can speak freely in front of you, and you can too in front of him, because you both know that neither will hesitate to correct any wrong words.

A good co-worker is one whom you will feel most at ease with, because you know that this is not an opponent or a rival, but someone who is helping you to walk the right path towards heaven. And you too have a duty towards him in that way.

I think Barnabas found that in Saul (Paul) and in their initial ministry together, even though not recorded explicitly in the Bible, somehow I get the sense that they enjoyed working together and they supported each other. As they serve others, they also serve each other, and are served by the other.

Beautiful, isn't it?

Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul (Acts 11:25).

And when he had found him, ...... for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people (Acts 11:26).

...sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul (Acts 11:30).

And Saul is blessed to have Barnabas, someone who started on this journey earlier, but took the time and effort to provide the opportunity for Saul to serve. Barnabas probably also took time and put in his heart to 'mentor' Saul as he begins his ministry.

We all need our Barnabas. We all need to be Barnabas. Only then can this baton be passed on, until the day of His coming.