Unequally Yoked

Perhaps you’ve heard of this interpretation of the phrase “unequally yoked” in the past: “when one person who holds certain religious views is joined with another person with nonexistent or differing religious views”. If we fully analyze the phrase in its scriptural context, we see that it carries a more profound meaning. The teaching of exercising caution prior to being “joined to another person” is not exclusively reserved for marriage, but highlights the fact that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and as such, we must not be linked to anything or anybody that could jeopardize our communion with the heavenly Father. In other words, your purpose in God’s agenda is not worth compromising by committing to people, places or things that distract or derail you from His way.

A yoke is a piece of wood used to join two similar animals by the head/neck area which has an attached pole or rod used to plow farming land. If a donkey is joined with a mule during the plow, because of the height difference, the resulting furrows will be curved and not straight, as they should be to maximize the land’s potential for harvest. The work will also take longer because one of the animals will be delayed by the other. If we take this biblical example and compare it to the life of a person, it’s easy to see how a mistaken union between two people will never yield excellent results.

In addition to differences in religious beliefs, an unequal yoke can also refer to people with incompatible values ​​or purposes that lead them to make conflicting decisions and actions in life. It can even be applied to people who accept job offers that take them away from God's original purposes for them. For this reason, Paul’s exhortation to not be yoked with unbelievers shows us that righteousness has no companionship with iniquity nor does the light with darkness.

You need to carefully examine the people who come into your life, especially when they arrive with sentimental intentions. When the Enemy sees how God is blessing you, he might try to send a “copy” to confuse you. Be careful not to entertain relationships with “copies” sent by the evil one because you might miss the “original” that God designated for you.