2 Kings 10:15
“And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.”
Associations are very powerful. Whether its in business, religious, work or in your personal life, an association can truly destroy or validate who you are. Associations ultimately define who you are and where you are going. This is why it is vitally important to be careful with whom or with what we associate in every aspect of our lives.
As Jehu was destroying the house of Ahab, he came upon Jehonadab and asked him if his heart was congruent with his. Jehonadab said it was, so Jehu said to him, “If it be, give me thine hand.” When Jehonadab joined hands with Jehu and stepped into his chariot, he was forever linked to the rest of Jehu’s acts in destroying the house of Ahab. The power of giving his hand to Jehu ultimately defined Jehonadab.
You must be very careful about your associations. People often make the mistake of giving their hand to someone in a task and never realize that associations may be good for the present, but it will forever mar the rest of their life. You must be very careful with whom or with what you choose to associate. There are some things you must let guide you in your associations.
First, never be quick to give your hand in association. Just because associating with a person or organization may temporarily help, you must realize that you will forever be linked to them. Give yourself time before linking up with a person or an organization so that you can determine if you want yourself forever tied to them.
Second, never sacrifice your values and beliefs to associate with someone for the greater good. Many people have sacrificed their core values and beliefs for the greater good of having more influence. What good will greater influence do for you if you have sacrificed your beliefs and values? Never sacrifice your soul for the greater good.
Third, don’t give your hand in association for a temporary direction. So, you find yourself temporarily agreeing with someone who previously was going a different direction, you still should not join hands in association because their temporary direction doesn’t mean they have permanently changed their direction. Always remember that temporary directional changes by someone does not mean they have permanently plotted to go in that direction. Give it time to see if they are walking the same path.
Fourth, never be afraid to pull your hand away from a longtime associate. When someone has changed their direction, you need to pull yourself away from them. Oftentimes we justify an association because we have heart strings that want us to stay close to a person, but if they have changed you must withdraw your hand from them. If a red light keeps flashing about their poor associations, then quietly withdraw your hand from them.
Finally, don’t seek associations. Just do right and you will find those with whom you should join hands. When you seek associations you will find the wrong ones, but in doing right you will be sure to discover the right associations.