Love in Every SeasonSample

Day 3: Summer Is The Season When Things Get Hot

If you’ve grown up in the church, you’ve likely heard the term “equally yoked.” This phrase is taken from 2 Corinthians 6:14, which says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” 

Usually, this passage is shared in the context of explaining that when it comes to romantic relationships, we need to make sure we are in a relationship with someone who identifies as a Christian. I think there’s so much value in that interpretation of Scripture, but I’d like to take that analogy just a little bit deeper, because we sell ourselves short of healthy relationships by not looking at the big picture of the context of this passage.

When talking about being “yoked together” in 2 Corinthians, Paul is using a farming metaphor. In order to grasp this analogy to its fullest, you have to understand some of the intricacies of farming culture. Living in the Amish town of Lancaster, PA, and interacting with farmers on a regular basis, I’ve learned a lot more about farming and agriculture than I ever could have imagined.

In the farming world, “yoking” is essentially pairing two animals together in order to prepare them for the work of plowing. The yoke was the solid wooden structure that would hold the pair of animals together. Now, when it comes to yoking two animals, it’s a no-brainer that you are going to pair two of the same type of animal. Two mules, two horses, etc. Two different animals would never work together in a setting like this. But not only that, the farmer’s job was to try and yoke together the two animals that were also the best fit. He had to find a good team. 

A good team has to be compatible in their strength, their disposition, and their personality. They had to be matched based on their ability to pull—together. If one animal is weaker than the other, the weak one will hold the strong one back. Because of the lack of balance, they’ll have to work much harder, but without the reward.

But, on the other hand, a team that is equally yoked is worth its weight in gold. They work together, pull together, and never give up. A good team is always going to be found side-by-side. 

This is why I believe God's word is adamant that believers need to be equally yoked in relationships.  We’re not just asked to be in relationship with someone who calls themselves a Christian like us, we need to find someone who matches us spiritually in their strength, their disposition, and their personality.  Someone who will make a good team. 

We need someone who loves God the way we love God, who prioritizes their relationship with Jesus the way we prioritize ours. The person who exudes the fruit of the Holy Spirit at work in their life the way we exude it in ours is the one we want. 

We want someone who is similarly committed to God and is ready and willing to do the good, hard, work of the kingdom of God. This is not just about marrying a Christian, this is about being matched together with someone who is wholly committed to plowing through life with you—the good, the bad, and the ugly of life—by your side, hand in hand, moving in God’s direction, even when there’s nothing but their vows keeping them there. Not only is it important to look for someone like that, it’s crucial that we become someone like that, because our team will only be as strong as the weakest link.

One of the most important aspects of the season of summer is to take inventory of the level of spiritual fire exuding from your relationship. The fire of God at work in your life is what fuels your love and, in turn, fuels your relationship. 

When our relationships are rooted in that kind of love, nothing can stop us. “For love is as strong as death . . . it burns like a blazing fire, like a mighty flame” (Song of Solomon 8:6). 

What are some ways you can fuel the fire of God in your life, starting today?