Written ~ 08-29-2023
Read 2 Corinthians Chapter 6…
Key Verses: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18…
“Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: ‘I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’”
I must admit when I read the passage for today’s study, I was a little apprehensive to dig deeper and write what the Lord has put on my heart. My intention is not to hurt anyone’s feelings, but I can’t water down the Scriptures. My heart is torn, but I need to obey the Lord. God’s Word is a two-edged sword. For the meaning of “two-edged sword” I consulted a Bible Commentary and found a brief explanation regarding its meaning in Scripture.
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”
“The Two-Edged Sword of God’s Word. The Bible truly functions as a “sword” in its ability to cut through to the innermost depths of a person’s heart and soul. God’s Word can penetrate through all the layers of impurity and get to the true central issues of life. In line with this conception, we can see that the Bible truly has two edges: condemnation and restoration. These two edges represent the beauty and wonder of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
When you read these verses from 2 Corinthians, what do you think of first? Work relationships? Friendships? Marriages? Well, all of them fall under the truths of this Scripture. As a follower of Jesus Christ, it should be our upmost desire to live according to the Word of God. Right? So, when you come across Scriptures like the ones here in 2 Corinthians, how do you address them? Do you skip over it, so you don’t feel it’s conviction? Or do you stop and think about how it applies to your life? Today, we are not going to skip over it.
Let’s start with working relationships. Most of us who work, probably don’t work for a Christian organization, (nice if we all could) more than likely your employer will not have the same biblical beliefs or moral standards. So, when our passage for today says in verses 6:14 and 15,
“Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?”
How do we apply these verses to our working relationships? I don’t think this applies specifically to the job we have with a non-Christian company. We do, however, need to maintain our moral beliefs and live as a beacon of Jesus; we need to be His Light. But, where I believe these verses do apply, is when we choose to work closely, side by side with the person who employs us and expect them to be upstanding and fair. If they don’t follow the Word of God in their own lives, it will be nearly impossible for the two of you to see eye to eye, not when one of you is Light and the other Dark. When questionable practices are exposed, can you go to that person with the power of the Holy Spirit and stand up for your rights? Think about it. Truly think about it. For this kind of working relationship, draw your attention to verse 6:17,
“Therefore, come out from among unbelievers and separate yourselves from them”, says the Lord. “Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.”
Again, here is an answer from the Lord Himself. Is your collaboration with the unbelieving employer working out? Or do you see problems, inconsistencies. The Lord may be asking you to reevaluate your partnership with this employer. When He says in verse 6:17, “… to separate yourselves…and I will welcome you.” What do you think that means? Look how The Message (MSG) puts this verse,
“So, leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good,” says God. “Don’t link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for Myself.”
If you start noticing little things that aren’t quite adding up, things that you would consider fair in your employment, and they aren’t? God may be trying to get your attention. No matter how wonderful your job is, it may not be where God wants you. Don’t settle, don’t compromise. Obeying the Word of God comes first. This is an example of working alongside an employer very closely, maybe even in a partnership type arrangement. These Scriptures in 2 Corinthians are quite clear that we should be very wary about teaming up with the non-believer. So how does this apply to your job in a large corporation? What if you start seeing corruption across the board. What if your employer is asking you to take part in “causes” that don’t fit with your moral beliefs and convictions? Yes, we can be a Light in any corporation, but what if your employer doesn’t allow you to be that Light and you need to hide your belief in the Word of God? Do you comply or make a stand and find something else?
Be a Light. Our working relationships are very important for our livelihood, that’s understandable. But do not let your employment compromise who you are in Christ Jesus. God lives within you, walk in His Light.
Alright, let’s think about our friendships. These would be friendships that are close, you share some kind of bond with that person, that’s why they are a part of your life. But how do your close friendships measure up to the Scriptures we are studying today? Are your closest friendships with non-believers? We are going to apply 2 Corinthians 6:14 and 15 to those relationships…
“Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?”
When you hang out with your friends, what do you talk about? If they are non-believers, how deep can your conversations be? Do you share with them the deepest, most sincere desires of your heart? Can you share what God is doing in your life? Or are those conversations more surface, not too meaningful? Then why would that friendship continue? Verse 6:15a says,
“What harmony can there be…?”
God is making it very clear in our Scripture today that we do not partner with the unbeliever. And in this verse what would “partner” mean? It means we are joining ourselves to that person. But God is saying Light and Dark cannot be joined. Does that mean we disassociate ourselves with our non-believing friends? I’m going to have Scripture answer that question. John 3:19-21 in The Message (MSG) says this,
“This is the crisis we’re in: God’s light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God’s light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God’s light, so the work of God can be seen.”
Some may argue that they hang out with non-believers because they want to bring them to the Lord. Fine, but is that what’s actually happening? Look again at verse 6:17,
“Therefore, come out from among unbelievers and separate yourselves from them”, says the Lord. “Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.”
I need to point out for just a moment, God knows the heart of the unbeliever, He knows if your presence in their life is one that will bring them to His saving grace. I believe wholeheartedly, you must be in constant communication with the Father if you are going to make the decision to separate yourself from a non-believing friend. It might be He wants your attention to be focused on Him. And if that friendship is not bringing your heart closer to Him, if it is not edifying, then it may be time to disassociate.
This next section I am treading lightly, not in any way compromising the Word of God, just lightly. I will be heavily relying on Scripture when speaking about the marriage union between a believer and a non-believer. I am going to begin by sharing 1 Corinthians 7:12-15,
“Now, I will speak to the rest of you, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. If a fellow believer has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her. And if a believing woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him. For the believing wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the believing husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy. But if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the believing husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.”
If you have made the conscious decision to marry someone who does not know the Lord Jesus as Savior, the marriage could work out ok, but God has called us to live in peace. Where light and darkness try to unite, one will become more prominent. Either the non-believer will come to Christ, or the believer could settle into a lukewarm Christianity. 2 Corinthians 6:14b-15,
“How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?”
Let’s also look at 1 Thessalonians 5:5 and 1 John 1:5,
“For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.”
“This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in Him at all.”
The Word of God is clear that Light should not be united with darkness. So, if you entered a marriage relationship knowing your spouse was not a believer, I think after digging into Scripture, it’s clear, there will be underlying discord. The unity of decisions could be divided if the believing spouse is seeking the Lord and the non-believing spouse is not. Though 1 Corinthians 7:12-15 speaks of the believing spouse bringing holiness to the marriage, it is in reference to the holy covering the children will have when conceived in that marriage union. It does not, however, speak of a covering of holiness on the unbelieving spouse. Your presence in that marriage does not mean your spouse is saved. No, they will need to come to that decision on their own. It could be a difficult road, especially for the believer, but try to create hope in the unequally yoked marriage, be the light, your prayers, your worship should not be done in shame or hidden away. Expose your Light onto every aspect of your life and in your marriage. Show your spouse you are unashamed of the Gospel, and your relationship with the Lord cannot be compromised. Live your life for the Lord wholeheartedly, even if it creates opposition from your spouse. Be bold, be courageous, shine your light even brighter!
Remember what 1 Corinthians 7:15 says,
“But if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the believing husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.”
If your spouse is willing to live with you, then they do not have the right to stifle or darken your walk with the Lord in any way. So don’t allow them to get the upper hand. Dig into the Scriptures, strengthen your knowledge in the Word of God and be prepared for your heart, mind, and soul to be changed. Does that mean there will be no hardship in your marriage? Unfortunately, there will be, like every marriage, there can be difficulties, miscommunication, but being married to a non-believer adds an increased difficulty. As believers we are the Temple of the Living God, He resides in us. The non-believer does not know that concept…
2 Corinthians 6 verses 16 and 18 say,
“And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: ‘I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be My people. And I will be your Father, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’”
No doubt, the marriage partnership with a non-believer is the most complicated. But keep in mind, any relationship we decide to align ourselves with that do not allow the fullness of Christ to be explored with complete unity, is going to be troublesome. Light cannot be teamed up with darkness. There will not be harmony between the believer and the non-believer, between Christ and the devil. Choose your future relationships using Scripture as your guide. Pray wholeheartedly for the relationships you are in currently, that the Lord would bring Salvation to the non-believer.
My heart goes out to any of you struggling in a work situation, a friendship, or a marriage partnership where the other person is not a believer. Stay true to the Word of God. Shine the Light of Jesus. Do not waver or compromise the truth found in the pages of the Bible. May God Richly Bless You.
~AMEN~