TO CHEW ON: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" 2 Corinthians 6:14
In Bible times, teams of oxen were used to do farm work, like pull a plow. A heavy wooden yoke was placed on the necks two oxen. The yoke was attached with leather straps to the plow.
Together the oxen pulled the plow, while the plowman walked behind them working the plow parts and breaking the ground. This yoke kept the oxen moving and pulling in the same direction.
But suppose one of the oxen refused to go forward or started pulling in a different direction? The obedient ox and the plowman would have a problem, and the work wouldn’t get done.
In the same way, it’s hard for people to work closely with others who want to go in a different direction than they do. If we want to obey and please God, it may be hard for us to work beside someone who is only wanting to be popular, rich, famous, or to have a good time. In fact, God warns us against such ties.
On the other hand, we love our family members and friends who don’t know Jesus. God does not ask us to separate outselves from them - but to keep on loving them. We may be the ones who someday introduce them to Jesus.
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please help me to be wise in my friendships with people who don’t know and love You. Amen.
MORE: Many Yokes
People can be “yoked together” in many ways. What advice would you give to people in the situations below? Explain why you think as you do.
1. A Christian boy wants to marry his girlfriend who thinks God doesn’t exist.
2. A non-Christian woman has asked your Christian aunt to be her business partner.
3. Your friend is the only Christian on his baseball team.
4. Your brother’s best friend doesn’t believe in God or Jesus.
***************
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
No comments:
Post a Comment