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 is one of the strongest exhortations in the Bible and yet one of the most frequently ignored.

A yoke is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull. To be ‘unequally yoked’ has the picture of two different animals, such as an ox and a donkey, under that yoke: two different natures bound together to complete a task.

If the animals are pulling together the work gets done smoothly and with purpose in mind, but if not then one of them is being dragged along or wanting to pull in a different direction. This results in  chafing, perhaps bleeding, and the plowing never gets done.

That is what occurs when a believer and an unbeliever come  together in any kind of partnership, whether in education, business, marriage, or any other partnership. The two do not have the same nature, and either one will be getting dragged along, or want to go a different direction, casing chafing, bleeding, and the goal not being accomplished. 

This is not a difference in personality, because God will pair us up with someone who strengthens our weaknesses, and complements our strengths.  When two oxen are put under the yoke they teach each other.  But this is about two natures. If you have submitted your life to Jesus then you have a different nature from those who are unsaved.  Regardless of whether it is because they are attractive or you think it necessity, yoking oneself to an unbeliever in any priority will lead to heartache, pain and loss.

Be careful when letting someone take an important partnership in your life and heed God’s word. Jesus promised that the yoke He places upon us is easy and accomplishes what He wants for us.