“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 harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
When I read this Scripture in 2 Corinthians, I’m immediately brought back to driving down the highway as a kid through Amish country Pennsylvania, looking out at the farm where two oxen were plowing the field or remembering the old Budweiser commercials where two Clydesdale horses were towing the heavy load of beer barrels in an old 1800’s wagon. The easy illustration that we can all picture––but what if there was only one instead of two large oxen, and it was yoked with a donkey? A big, strong ox pulling with a more miniature, weaker donkey is a recipe for disaster! That farmer working his land will not get very far when his ox is “unequally yoked” with the donkey.
So why does Paul use this illustration when talking about people? “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.” I always thought this verse was talking about marriage––don’t yoke yourself or tie yourself to a woman who isn’t saved and walking with the Lord. It makes sense to me, but is it limited to just marriage? What about my friends, co-workers, or business partners? It begs the question, “Well, what does it mean to be yoked with someone?”
I think the answer lies somewhere in the level of commitment in the relationship. The level of commitment I have with my wife should be different than the level of commitment I have with the buddies I play hockey with on Monday nights. By different, I mean the level of intimacy and influence. I think Paul is urging us NOT to form binding relationships with nonbelievers because this might weaken our commitment to “following Christ” and our standards & integrity. I don’t think this means we’re supposed to isolate ourselves from nonbelievers (“I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case, you would have to leave this world.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-10). Rather, be active in our witness for Christ to represent Jesus as best we can; we shouldn’t lock ourselves into personal or business relationships that could cause us to compromise our faith and our commitment to God. I’m all about trying to avoid situations that would knowingly make it hard for me to walk the line.
One’s own comfort can easily misinterpret this Scripture verse. It’s good from time to time to engage someone else’s perspective to see how it might line up with how we discern (or don’t) the written Word of God. We all have blind spots, which is why it’s so imperative we have godly men and friendships around us to help us see things we otherwise aren’t seeing. We need the iron-sharpening iron of others who know God and the Word to challenge us when we may be headed off course.
Strength & Honor,
DJ Clancy, Red Truck Men