II Corinthians III
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (II Corinthians 6:14 ESV)
Yoked
I once managed a group of salespeople, and I discovered that some of them, while all excellent in their own way, did not work well together. For instance, one salesman always drove towards making LARGE sales. He did not work well, on a team, with the salesman who primarily wanted to make many, many light contacts, planning to make sales in the long term. You would think they would complement each other, but all they did was fight.
They were unequally yoked.
On a movie set a few months ago, we had to use humans to pull a wagon (the animals did not follow directions!) But the two young men we put in the harness did not work well together. One was strong and slow. The other was quick and full of burst of energy. The wagon would not go straight.
They were unequally yoked.
Even more so, those of us who know we work and live only for our King, Jesus, do not work well with those who serve another King, another God, another worldview.
Whether we are referring to employment, projects, relationships, or marriage… if our foundations are not the same… things WILL be difficult.
We work best with folk with whom we work together.
It is not about similar attitudes, experiences, or habits. It is all about having the awareness of how amazing our saving, loving, and Kingly our Jesus is.
THAT is the yoke that matters.