Few verses get stretched out of context as often as this one. Paul is writing to the church at Corinth, a major trade route and a big, busy city full of idols and business dealings. Right in the middle of all that, he writes:
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” — 2 Corinthians 6:14
When a Verse Gets Stretched Too Far
As a kid, I was a standout baseball player, the kind coaches figured would go somewhere. My mom was a Spirit-filled believer who followed a pastor whose message that year was built on this verse. What she took from it was that I could no longer be “unequally yoked” with non-believers. If there were twelve boys on the team, at least seven would have to be saved Christians, or I couldn’t play. I never played again.
I hold none of that against my parents, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without that road. But it’s a clear picture of what happens when a verse is lifted out of its context.
What It Doesn’t Mean
Does this verse mean I have to interview all forty-five men in a golf league before I can join? Of course not. Jesus didn’t steer clear of the sick; he went straight to them, because that’s where ministry happens. We can’t reach anyone we refuse to talk to. And fourteen-year-old teammates weren’t shaping my future. We were busy arguing about pitch counts.
What It Does Mean: The People You Tie Yourself To
To be yoked is to be bound together. Paul is looking back to Deuteronomy 22:10, where Moses says not to yoke an ox and a donkey together. They have different strengths, move at different speeds, and get excited about different things. You’ll never plow a straight field if one is pulling left while the other wants to stop.
The first place that applies is relationships. If you’re single, look for someone who shares your faith. Marrying an unbeliever might turn out wonderfully if they come to Christ, but if that isn’t God’s plan, you’re signing up for a very hard road.
The second is business partnerships. There are kind, ethical non-believers, some with higher standards than certain Christians I’ve met. But they aren’t headed to the same place, and ideals can drift in different directions. That’s different from simply working at a company that isn’t Christian-based. A job isn’t a lifelong tie.
If You’re Already Married
This verse is not a reason to leave a marriage where one spouse believes and the other doesn’t. Christ gives very specific guidelines on divorce, and an unbelieving spouse isn’t one of them. That’s a time to go to your prayer closet and pray for your spouse’s salvation, not to abandon the relationship.
Light With Light
Paul isn’t telling us to isolate ourselves. We don’t reach the sick by staying home. But we can’t walk in two directions at once, either. When two believers walk together, they aren’t competing with each other. If you win and your spouse loses, you’ve both lost.
One order worth remembering: God first, spouse second, children third, and then everything else. Put God first and everything after him falls into place.
So take inventory today. Where are you tied to someone or something that isn’t headed the same direction you are? Take it to the Holy Spirit, and ask what he wants you to do about it.
You can catch this devotional and every weekday message live on carltondewaynedunko.com, Monday through Thursday at 9:15 AM Eastern. DeWayne also co-hosts the original 9:15 Devotional, where you'll find the full video archive and more ways to connect.