A Lesson from the Oxen

Dear Judy, I’ve been troubled by a question someone put to me recently. This friend asked me, “Are you and your fiancé evenly yoked? Both in business and personally? I had to stop and give it some thought. Actually, the question confused me. What do you say about this question?

Dear Confused,

This is a great question that I wish more people would ask before they marry or start a business! My opinion really does not matter but what the Bible says about it sure does. I am going to guess that you are a Christian since you are asking me for my opinion. Believers have one manual for success in this life and for all eternity--the Word of God. The Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:14,

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

This verse is very clear; it says DO NOT! A yoke holds something together, like oxen pulling a plow, and is a balance beam. There is no balance with a believer and an unbeliever. They will always be lopsided. One person lives in the Kingdom of light while the other lives in the kingdom of darkness. Two totally different kingdoms with totally different kings and different principles. Jesus Christ is the King of the Kingdom of light and satan is the king of the kingdom of darkness. How can correct decisions be made from both kingdoms? It cannot happen!

If a Christian disobeys what the Bible says, he or she will suffer consequences. Both in business and in personal life, we need the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. If we allow an unbeliever to yoke with us in making decisions, we will find these decisions go toward the ways of the world, not the ways of Christ.

When we become a Christian we are now a new creation in Christ and Jesus Christ is our personal Savior. We now do everything according to how it will affect the Kingdom of God and do it with the character of Jesus.

When you or any believer gets married, you want someone who is excited about the Lord Jesus Christ and wants to advance the Kingdom of God. If the thought comes, “Oh, I will change him (or her) after marriage,” most times you will be facing a long hard haul with many lonely moments. Get evenly yoke in marriage; then if you enter business together, you will be evenly yoke in the business field also. Balance is believer with believer! Wisdom speaks!

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