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Unequally
Yoked
The Lord told the Israelites not to yoke together different
animal species together to plow. He told this because the
different animals were not made to work together. One of them
could hurt the other. Deuteronomy 22:10 "You shall not
plow with an ox and a donkey together.II Corinthians 6:14 Do
not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do
righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what
fellowship can light have with darkness? What does the Bible
refer to when it speaks of being unequally yoked?
Many times we miss interpret this verse to mean that we are
not to associate with non-believers. This is not true. We are
to love them and share Christ with everyone we meet. Paul when
writing this verse was referring to not compromising our
relationship with Christ, our commitment. He was not saying
that we were not to witness and reach out to the non-believer,
but we can not participate in some of the things of this world
without destroying our own witness to non-Christians. It says
to the unbeliever that you say it is wrong to do a thing, yet
you do it anyway. It gives a false testimony of Christ
Himself.
If someone who was a drinker before coming to Christ, who no
longer drinks, yet continues to be around his drinking buddies
and does not take a stand that he no longer drinks then is
compromising. What does this say to his buddies about the
Lord. Does this say that Christ is number one in your life.
That He is Lord of your life. That He has changed your life.
This applies to not only friendships, family, business, but
whom you may choose as your lifetime mate. It is hard when we
have to break off relationships with those we care about or
leave a job because we will not participate in a business with
illegal or immoral practices. We cannot compromise without it
costing us something personal. When we take a stand for what
we believe in and stand firm at all costs we are blessed
beyond belief. We may lose that job, friend or family member
or even the one we might think to be our mate, but most
important our relationship with God is not broken.
Picture two oxen both with lame right legs joined together at
the yolk to pull their burden. They would only be able to pull
in a circle. Or two oxen pulling in different directions.
Neither would get very far.
When we choose relationships that are not pulling in the same
direction it weakens both. It is not enough to just believe in
God and be a believer. Both must believe and take a stand in
the same way. If both are going in different directions then
there is no oneness to the relationship. Their relationship
must compliment one another. Being unequally yoked is when two
are pulling in different directions. A believer should marry a
like-minded believer and not to do so would be to say the
least, risky. We have seen many instances where a stronger
Christian married a "Professing Christian" who has
little or no desire to truly follow the Lord's directions for
marriage and life.
Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpen iron, So one man sharpens another.
Amos 3:3 Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do
so?
Whether it be a business partner, friendship or a lifetime
mate, be equally yoked, like-minded. Walk together in
agreement and one will sharpen the other. For as in all things
you are a team, working together for a like cause. This is the
success of all relationships. Especially those in Christ.
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