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SINGLE MINDED
26
November 2012
Good News - Broward Edition
Cole NeSmith
Good News
Commentary
Growing up in church, there
was always this discussion about
the phrase, “Do not be unequally
yoked” (2 Corinthians 6:14).
Of course, it was wielded as
an instruction not to date
someone
who
wasn’t
a
Christian. And, actually, I’m not
here
to
say
anything
different. It’s just – for me – I
don’t do well with “don’t”
statements
that
aren’t
explained. Especially when I
think there’s an explanation.
Let me start by saying that,
of course you and I are called to
be in relationships with people
who aren’t followers of Jesus –
people who don’t agree with the
non-negotiables. So, let’s just
make sure we’re not talking
about being isolated from the
world.
But
this
agricultural
metaphor of yoking is the
picture of two oxen or donkeys
bound together in a wooden
device called a yoke. It forces
the animals to stay moving at the
same pace and in the same
direction. You can already see
where I’m going with this,
probably, but let me bring just a
little bit more explanation.
This metaphor isn’t about
whether we should or should
not
be
in
a
particular
relationship. Rather, it applies to
the depth with which we should
engage in that relationship.
Look at it this way. There are
three types of relationships:
1.
There
are
some
relationships in which you are
primarily a giver.
2.
There
are
some
relationships in which you are
primarily a receiver.
3.
There
are
some
relationships of nearly mutual
exchange.
There is a purpose for all three
of these relationships in our lives.
But our deepest relationships fall
into the third category.
Thus, I think there’s one
question to gauge the health of a
deep
and/or
romantic
relationship :
Is there a nearly mutual
exchange of encouraging and
challenging each other to be
more like Jesus and to love the
world as he does?
If we’re going to charge
head-on into life with someone,
this has to be at the center of it
all. If not, we’ll do one of two
things.
1. We’ll stand around
kicking rocks. Not moving. Just
waiting for the other person to
start the journey.
2. We’ll run head-on into life
without
them,
and
our
relationship will be destroyed.
God gives us freedom to be
in whatever relationships we
want with whomever we
desire. This whole “unequally
yoked” thing isn’t about making
God happy with us. God’s love
for us is unconditional and
perfect. There’s nothing you and
I can do – good or bad – to
change that. This issue is all
about the fulfillment and
satisfaction you and I will
experience in the long run as we
engage in our relationships.
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Unequally Yoked