“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers;
because what fellowship has justice with injustice?
And what communion has light with darkness? And what concord does Christ with Belial?
Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?”
(2 Corinthians 6:14-15)
The word yoke is defined in the dictionary as the instrument to unite two oxen or mules in a yoke, formed by an elongated piece of wood with two arches that fit the head or neck of the animals and that is attached to the spear of a chariot or the tiller of a plow.
It strikes me that in Deuteronomy 22:10, God tells his people Israel that they would not plow an ox and a donkey together.
According to the dietary laws that God commanded his people, the ox was a clean animal and the donkey was unclean. John MacArthur explains to us that these two different animals could not draw a straight furrow together. Their temperaments, natural instincts and physical characteristics made it impossible, so our wise God forbade his people to put the ox and the donkey together to plow for agricultural work because he knew how different these two animals were.
So this illustration helps us to better understand the heart of God by prohibiting us from being unequally yoked with a person who does not embrace the same beliefs, commitments and love for God that I have, in the end our differences will separate us and in the Most of the cases we will end up with injuries and God wants to avoid us that pain.
Although it is true that here he is referring to not marrying an unbeliever, we recognize that biblical courtship is one that is done in order to get married, so if you cannot marry an unbeliever, why enter into a dating someone you could not marry, this would be dangerous, reckless and foolish.
Although it is true that we have seen cases where the unbeliever converts after being in a relationship with a Christian, this is the minority, and the truth is that in most cases the unbeliever ends up influencing the Christian, because it is easier copy the bad than the good.
And in fact, not because someone says they are a Christian is, be careful, you must examine the heart of the young person with whom you want to start a relationship because someone attending church does not make them a Christian, you must see how they live, how they take their decisions, if the Bible is your guide, if God is your passion. Involve your parents, pastors, and spiritual leaders so that they help you evaluate the young person before entering into a courtship and that it is not your emotions that alone make such an important decision.
A marriage is something very serious, it is a lifelong commitment for which you must make the decision with great caution. Pray to God and seek direction from him. If you really seek his direction, I can assure you that he will not let you down.
God revealed himself to my life when I was 13 years old, and this truth about not being unequally yoked with an unbeliever was one of the first teachings I learned and that I determined in my heart to obey, because I understood that His plans and His will is and always will be. much better than mine and how blessed I was to decide to listen and obey God’s advice.
«Who can give advice to the Spirit of the Lord?
Who knows enough to advise or instruct him?
Has the Lord ever needed someone’s advice?
Do you need to be instructed in what is good?
Has anyone taught the Lord what is right,
or showed him the path of justice?«
Isaiah 40:13-14
We are the ones who need God’s advice, He knows what is right, well, and when He forbids us something, it is not to limit or take away our delight, but to allow us to enjoy true joy. So decide to trust and obey God and I assure you that living within the will of God will bring more joy to your life than the joy that any relationship can offer you, make Jesus your passion and He will take care of the rest.