2 Corinthians 6:14-16

¹⁴Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? ¹⁵What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Farming

         Spring is the time for farming. Before agricultural machineries were invented, farmers used bulls, horses or donkeys. If farmers cultivated wider land areas, they yoked two or several animals together for efficient result. The yoke controls the animals to walk or move at the same speed.

         Interestingly, the Lord commanded Israel in Deuteronomy 22:10,

            ¹⁰Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together. 

         Why did God command not to plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together. Efficient farming requires harmony and compatibility among the animals. The ox is strong and steady, while the donkey is not as strong as the ox. Donkeys are also stubborn. The Israelites understood it clearly that to yoke together different strength and temperament is not productive.

         The ox could be hurt if it carries heavier load, and the donkey will also be hurt if the ox walks faster and pulls the yoke with the donkey. In the end, work suffers, and the farmer could be frustrated. Israelite farmers may have already observed that it’s wise not to yoke an ox and a donkey together.

         The Israelites understood really well how yoke can be efficiently useful when the same animals with the same strength are yoked together.

         Let’s reflect on what the Lord instructed the Israelites in Exodus 6:6:

            ⁶I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.

         Did the Egyptians put yoke on their Israelites slaves? Probably. When moving huge boulders while they built pyramids and temples in Egypt, they yoked the Israelite slaves to work efficiently in harmony. When they had no available animals for farming, the Egyptians may have yoked their slaves to plow the land. Slaves were also yoked to carry their master when travelling.

         Yoke is a biblical symbol of slavery. Anyone can be yoked or enslaved in wickedness, and another can be yoked or enslaved in righteousness.

1.  Between Righteousness and Wickedness

      ¹⁴Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

         By faith, we trust Christ as Lord, and we serve him as proof of trust.

         As servants of Christ, we are commanded not to be yoked together with those who do not believe in him. Read the Scripture to learn how you may serve Christ as Lord. His word  stipulated the service he accepts. We serve God because we trust him. Doing otherwise is rejection of God.

QC

         Factories and manufacturing companies have quality control (QC). QC officers or staffs make sure that company products are manufactured according to the required standard. QC is crucial. Many purchased vehicles have been recalled when accidents happened caused by faulty parts.

         Imagine you were flying, and the airplane had faulty parts. There’ll be no chance for recall. Why? Airplane accidents can be deadly and fatal.

         Likewise, God wants his children to be spiritually safe. He instructed us not to be yoked with unbelievers, why? It’s God’s quality control for his children. We trust God’s design for us is best, so we obey. In contrast, they reject the quality control designed by God because they do not trust him.

         Let’s reflect on what it proclaimed in Romans 6:16-18, ¹⁶When you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. ¹⁸You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

         Slaves trust their good masters would provide for them. They do not worry about their food, clothing or shelter. Because they depend on their master in everything they need, slaves serve their master with their best effort. Good masters would also favor reliable and trustworthy servants.

         Abraham was a good master. He also trusted his senior servants. Let’s reflect on what it narrated in Genesis 24:2-4, ²Abraham said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh. ³I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, ⁴but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.”

         Abraham trusted his senior servant to find a wife for his son Isaac.

The senior servant took ten camels loaded with gold and silver. He went and found Rebeccah and brought her back to Canaan as wife for Isaac.

         The servant faithfully completed the mission that Abraham told him. He may have proven that serving his master Abraham was best for him.

         Brothers and sisters in Christ, we trust the King of kings and the Lord of lords Jesus Christ as our master. And we serve God as practical proof that adventurous life is much better with Christ. Have you explored it?

         In contrast, they are hesitant and resist instruction from God because they don’t believe him. But believers prefer a life adventure with Christ.

2.  Between Believer and Unbeliever

      ¹⁵What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

         What is Belial. Belial is translated as vile, wicked, morally bankrupt, worthless, lawless rebellion against God. Belial is an epithet, a descriptive term or characteristic of Satan. In short, Belial is a nickname of Satan.

         They reject Christ and become slaves of wickedness. In contrast, we become slaves of righteousness and reject wickedness when we believe, follow and serve Christ. We behave righteously. The Holy Spirit inspires us to behave righteously. No one can behave righteously on his human effort.

         What do you think? The word of God describes human righteousness as dirty. Together, let us seriously reflect on Isaiah 64:6, ⁶All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

         Originally, “filthy rags” are properly translated as clothe or garment used during monthly period of women. Filthy rags are never displayed in the open. They are not delightful sight. They have unpleasant smell. Filthy rags need to be washed thoroughly or else they should be thrown away.

         Since our righteous acts are filthy rags in the sight of God, we are like dried leaf that the wind sweeps away. But even with acts like filthy rags in his sight, God offers to refurbish and renew us for his mission purpose.

         How should we internalize what it announces in 1 John 1:5-7?

         ⁵God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. ⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

         We believe that Jesus Christ shed blood on the cross, washed away our sins, filled us with righteousness for God to reconcile us to himself.

         So, how can we practically prove that we were reconciled with God?

         We share the message of reconciliation to God. How do we prove our sins were washed away? Sin cannot control us anymore. We righteously behave as testimony when we share the message of reconciliation to God.

         Now, if our righteous acts are filthy rags to God, how should we act? How do you explain what it advises us in 2 Timothy 1:7-8, ⁷For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. ⁸So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord.

VBS

         If you are timid and not explored the power, love and self-discipline from the Holy Spirit, you can actively get involved in the different church activities and learn how you may apply lessons in your life privately. Better yet, come and observe during the Vacation Bible School week.

         Some VBS participants may have signed up just for fun. Indeed, VBS offers lot of fun. Pray for VBS, help prepare decoration, teaching materials, arrange and clean or greet visitors. Participation is intentional to store up treasures for yourselves in heaven. During VBS, teachers share the good news of salvation to children and disciple new believers to be responsible.

         Parents are advised in Proverbs 22:6, ⁶Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

         This is practical and spiritual advice. Spiritually, new believers are considered as young children in their faith. Children need guidance from mature adults. This is also called discipling. Parents disciple your children.

         King Solomon was the wisest king of Israel. His successor as king of Israel was his son Rehoboam, but his first decision as king was foolishly terrible. And God allow that to happen. It narrated in 2 Chronicles 10:8:

         ⁸Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.

         His decision forced the northern kingdom of Israel separated from the southern kingdom of Judah and elected their king. Sadly, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, Jeroboam built altars for idol worship to prevent his people to return to worship in the temple of God in Jerusalem.

3.  Between Temple of God and Idols

            ¹⁶What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

         Worship in the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem was pleasant to God. In contrast, idol worship in the northern kingdom of Israel contradicted the command of God. They worshipped golden calves made by their hands. They ignorantly opposed the commands of the Lord in Exodus 20:3-6,

         ³You shall have no other gods before me. ⁴You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. ⁵You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ⁶but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

         Idol worship is understood as bowing to man-made image, statue, figurine or sculpture. They argue that statues or figurines are just symbols. How does idol worship oppose to worship of God? Paul said: For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

         Worship of God was based from worship in the temple of the Lord. When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God sent his Holy Spirit into our heart, and we become the temple of God, and he becomes our God. God lives with us, and he walks among us. And we become God’s children. It declares about us in Galatians 4:6, ⁶You are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

         Personally, do you sense any intimate father-child relationship with God? Probably, you trust your parents to do their best to provide for your needs. Have you experienced when your parents trusted you as a person?

Hongkong

         A friend brought us to the financial district in Hongkong for a snack. While I was talking to our Asian friend, my children asked me to buy snack for them. So I gave them my wallet and told them, “Here, go and buy snack you prefer to eat.” Our Asian friend was surprised and said, “You just give them your wallet, and trust them just like that?” “Yeah! Why?” I asked.

         It is beneficial for children to behave properly at a young age. Mistake is a hard and painful way of learning experience. As children of God, we still make mistakes. Pray for stronger faith and explore gratifying adventure in Christ. Don’t be yoke with anyone who rejects God. Participate in church activities instead and discover how you personally serve God. Amen!

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