Synergy...

It’s a term you hear a lot in the corporate world (or so I’ve heard) used to describe some sort of teamwork or team effort that brings about an overall better result than if each person was working toward the same goal individually. Merriam-Webster defines it as, “a mutually advantageous conjunction or compatibility of distinct business participants or elements.” Plainly put, there is a benefit, a valuable goal out there and synergy is the joining of like-minded groups going after that goal. Oh, and it also has the idea that individually the benefit or valuable goal would not be reached on its own.

Think of baking a cake (though not one of my frequent past times). The individual ingredients are disgusting by themselves. A raw egg, a teaspoon of baking powder, or a swig of vanilla extract isn’t the most desirable treat. But when mixed together with other “not so appealing” ingredients, a delicious cake is made.

Synergy comes from the Greek word “sunergeo” and is the exact word used in the famous Romans 8:28 verse:

And we know that God cause all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

All things don’t work together for our good in and of themselves. GOD CAUSES all things to work together (synergy) for good. All things that happen in our lives – good or bad – God mixes them together like a Holy Baker to produce a beneficial, valuable goal in our lives. His providential power is shown in the “all things” part. “All” means “all” and that’s all “all” means! Things that we bring on ourselves, things that others do to us. Things we deserve, things we don’t deserve. Consequences of our own actions, consequences of other’s actions. God causes all things to work out for our benefit. That’s what “good” means. Not good as in a pleasurable, happy, wonderful emotional experience. No, God will ”sunergeo” or “mix together” everything in our lives to become beneficial, spiritually profitable, and useful = good.

But, don’t get so excited about the “good” part that you stop reading the rest of the verse. Paul says that there is a major condition here. In order for God to work all things for your benefit, you must (1) love God and (2) be called according to His purpose. The love here is a lifestyle of love. Are you living a love lifestyle? Check 1 Corinthians 13 and make sure. If you are not living a lifestyle of patience, a lifestyle of kindness, a lifestyle of protection, a lifestyle of trust, a lifestyle of hope, a lifestyle of longsuffering or – if you are living a lifestyle of envy, a lifestyle of boasting, a lifestyle of pride, a lifestyle of rudeness, a lifestyle of anger, a lifestyle of jealousy; then guess what, this promise doesn’t apply to you. And secondly, His purpose is to make us like Christ. How’s that going for ya? Are you becoming more Christ-like? Check yourself out. Be honest with yourself.

God desires to bring synergy to your life. So live a lifestyle of love while working to become more like Christ. Then come what may, God will work it out for good.