p. 14 | Taking in a Partner

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 31, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 13.

Taking in a Partner.

TWO men were driving through the streets of a manufacturing town, when one of them stared in amazement at a large building from which came the whirr of machines and the sound of belts and pulleys.

“What’s this?” he cried. “I thought Smith’s mill was stopped; somebody told me that he had gone under. Taken on new life, hasn’t it? Seems to be something doing here now, I should say!”

His friend explained the secret readily. Nothing was changed but the management. The man had taken a new partner, giving him chief interest. “Place always was all right. What it needed was a live man to run it. Wise fellow—that Smith—wasn’t he?”

“Brainy! Pity half the concerns in the country couldn’t do the same thing — take in somebody for a partner who could make it worth while running the business. It’s the secret of a new life, if they did but know it.”

There are men, as well as mills, going on at a poor, dying rate for lack of just such partnership. There are young men, just starting their life business, who would show themselves wise by taking in Christ as chief Partner. The old “plant” is well enough. It needs no special new equipment. A new spirit is needed — wisdom, energy, and executive ability. All these Christ stands ready to put into any business that gives Him first place and runs on His principles. He demands a controlling voice, but it is a partnership for all that. The fine thing about it is that success is sure from the start on that basis. There is no uncertainty, no luck, about it. People will often stand and look and wonder. The hum and joy and movement of new life will make people ask questions, as they did of blind Bartimaeus, when he was sitting by the wayside.

Successful? A new man? Indeed, yes! He’s taken in a new Partner. He’s a Christian.—The Wellspring.