CyberSaint® • The Truth About Unequal Yokes, Part 3

As previously stated, God did state many times that He was displeased with marital choices made by His children. In light of that fact, He gave many guidelines. Quoting 2 Corinthians 6 is not enough ammunition to arm the saints of God. If the exposition on fellowship doesn’t persuade you, let’s go a little deeper (without getting deep). Let’s cover some of the scriptures that directly highlight this fact. In doing so, we’ll answer the remainder of the aforementioned questions.

Romans 15:4 states, For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. God has left several witnesses on record regarding male/female relationships with the similitude of unbelievers. I’m simply going to list examples, both direct and indirect, that impacted me as I prepared for this article. Let him that has an ear hear what the Spirit is saying.

Consider Rachel (Genesis 31:19-35): I promised that I would write about this one day and here it is. Early in my saved life, the Lord dealt with me about the example of Rachel. Here’s the story and the message. Jacob was so enamoured with her that he labored for fourteen years before her father, Laban, gave her to him in marriage. When Jacob finally departed, Rachel stole some of her father’s false gods. According to history, these gods (teraphim), were superstitious or idolatrous images. Rachel would not have stolen them unless they had a place in her heart. She took the gods and then hid them by sitting on top of them. When Laban and his men caught up to Jacob’s troupe, they could not find the gods. When they came to where Rachel was, in an effort to keep the gods, Rachel told a little white lie, saying that the “custom of women” was upon her (we know what that was) and she didn’t want to get up. What’s the message here? Brothers, beware the deceitfulness of attraction. Sisters, beware of that certain brother’s savoir faire and handsomeness (see The Deceitfulness of Attraction, Scenario, Volume 1, Issue 4). The last thing you need in your life is an extremely attractive person with a false god hidden in their life. They know it’s there, because they hid it. The simple presence of the false god will bring degradation, shame and cursing upon your home and give the enemy access to your life. You need to get to know someone and understand their level of character. I’m not promoting paranoia or skepticism. I’m encouraging honesty and deliberation when getting to know someone. Rachel had a hidden god in her life. We have no record that Jacob knew anything about it. If a person has a god (superstition/idolatrous practice) in their life, GOD WILL let you know. You can minister to it or let it go. If the person claims it’s not there by telling a little white lie, then you know what to do (I hope).
The Classic Example — Samson (Judges 14:3): Everyone has heard the story of Samson and Delilah, but how many of you have heard the foundation of the story. According to history, Samson was not a Schwarzenegger-type. He was a man that was short of stature. This is what made his acts so great. It had to be the power of God, because no man of this stature could do the acts that he did. History also states that Samson was not an attractive man. Enter the plague of the centuries — relationships. The enemy played with Samson regarding women. People who aren’t stereotypically attractive are classic targets of the enemy and, I’d venture to say (out of permission) they are more susceptible to this type of problem. Samson told his parents, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife . . . for she pleaseth me well. The major problem here, in conjunction with this article, is that the woman pleased Samson. Single saints, beware when a daughter (or son) of Belial pleases you well. It’s impossible for you to be in your right mind (spiritually) and take pleasure in someone that God doesn’t take pleasure in. Ecclesiastes 7:26 says, And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. Be honest for your life’s sake. If you’re in a relationship with a person who is not walking in the light you know it. Realize that God is “rocking your boat” in an effort to wake you up and bring you to a point of soberness. Don’t settle for the devil’s junk or you may end up like Samson — blind and troubled.
Only In The Lord (1 Corinthians 7:39; Nehemiah 13:27): The scriptures declare that the law is good if a man use it lawfully. We’re going to exemplify this by showing some of the things God said regarding selection of a mate from the law and the prophets. In 1 Corinthians 7:39, Paul made a statement regarding a woman who remarried. He said . . . only in the Lord could she remarry. The word “only” is huge. The spirit of Paul’s message has Old Testament significance. This significance is related to the first two sections of this article — yokes and fellowship. God always seemed concerned about who a person was with in the Old Testament because of what I’ll call the influence factor. The “bad person” always seemed to have a greater impact on the “good person.” Thus came the commandment in Deuteronomy 7:3-4, . . . for they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods. This sentiment is also illustrated in The Violation of Solomon (below). The influence factor doesn’t only affect the spouse, but also the children. Malachi 2:11, 15 speaks about God’s displeasure with the men that had profaned the holiness of the Lord which he loved and married the daughter of a strange God. God felt so strongly about this violation that the next verse states that The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts. Rough stuff, huh? This proves, however, the intensity of God’s concern about such things. Verse 15 says, And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. God desires that your children be godly. Hear the sentiment of God when speaking about Abraham: For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. This is why maximizing singleness is so important. The goal of the single Christian should be to become everything that you can in the sight of God. If and when you do marry, you’ll be an asset and not a leech or a liability to your spouse. You’ll also be a blessing to your children and to the body of Christ at large. You see, godliness is profitable in all things. The less godly you are, the more trouble you’ll have in relationships and marriage. The more godly you are, the better equipped you’ll be to function and deal with opposition; thus, you will have been a blessing and shall be a blessing. Do you realize that if you as a child of God marry a child of the devil, that figuratively makes the devil your father-in-law. Do you realize how that will affect your home and your life? Do you realize the influence and impact that the person has on you and the things around you? Do you realize that 2 Timothy 2:26 states that children of the devil are taken captive by him at his will? This means that the devil can, pretty much, come into your home and “raise sand” when he gets good and ready. Do you really want to deal with that? Do you realize that this is a deathdefying move? God doesn’t want to see any of us in that position. Let’s embrace the counsel of God. In doing so, we’ll have peace which is the offspring of obedience.
The Violation of Solomon (1 Kings 11:1-12): Solomon was one the wisest men that ever lived, if not the wisest. He had one problem, however — women. In Deuteronomy 17:14-20, we see the commandments given to kings (long before Israel had a king). One of the commandments was regarding the multiplication of wives. Solomon violated this very command. The scriptures state he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. We need to realize that when the Lord counsels us about something, he knows our thoughts afar off. His commandments are for His glory, but they’re also for our good. After this turn of events, it’s no wonder that Solomon had so many things to say about strange women. There are too many references for us to cover in this article, but I will leave you with one — directed at the brothers in particular. In Proverbs 7, Solomon concludes a discourse about the strange woman (anyone who doesn’t know the Lord) in this fashion. Proverbs 7:21-23 reads: With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

Brother (and sister) the devil knows what to parade before you to thwart the plan of God. When it comes, resist it. If someone who seems to be right comes into your life, but does not embrace the holiness of God and is willing to profane it, run for your life. Just as God provided Abraham with a ram, He is surely able to provide you with a godly mate.

Part 4 -- Conclusion

The Truth About Unequal Yokes -- by Darren W. Hood
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Reprinted from Scenario Magazine
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The Truth About Unequal Yokes, Part 3
(2 Corinthians 6:14-17)

God’s Commentary on Marrying Unbelievers

The Truth About Unequal Yokes, Part 3 (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)

God’s Commentary on Marrying Unbelievers

The Truth About Unequal Yokes, Part 3
(2 Corinthians 6:14-17)