Ezra 9: 1-2 (NKJV)
"When these things were done, the leaders came to me, saying, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, with respect to the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed is mixed with the peoples of those lands. Indeed, the hand of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this trespass."
2 Corinthians 6: 31 (NKJV)
"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty."
Our loving Father in heaven is the only all wise God and King, and He knows what is best for us His children. So as believers in Christ Jesus, He commands us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. What does this mean for us today as daughters of the King of the Kings? It means we are not to enter into partnerships with those who do not know God nor have a relationship with Him through Christ Jesus. It means that we do not enter into covenant with them. It means not entering into what God will see as a mismatched and unholy alliance.
Why will God give us this command? He gives us this command because light and darkness cannot operate together in harmony. There will surely be problems. Like the Message Bible puts it, “Christ cannot go strolling with the devil”. We are the temple of God and so we cannot partner with those who are temples of idols. This is no disrespect to unbelievers, it is a fact that the two just don’t go together. God gives us this command to protect us from harm and heartache. He is jealous for our relationship with Him and knows being unequally yoked can draw us away from Him, our first love. When we go against His wishes, we dishonor Him and create unnecessary pain.
In the book of Ezra, we see God’s people fall into this error of inter-marriage with those who were not the people of God. God had commanded them not to, so that their hearts will not be drawn away from Him. He also did not want them to sin against him by falling into idol worship. Just as His will for His people Israel was that they do not corrupt themselves by entering into covenant and agreement with people from the nations that did not know Him, so it is for us who are His covenant children through Christ Jesus.
So whether you are considering someone as a possible marriage partner or a business partner, please let this principle be at the centre of your decision making. It does not matter how desperate you are or how lucrative, or tempting, or right the prospect might be, God is wiser and sees beyond the surface.
When it comes to the choice of a life partner or business partner, please let the Lord lead you and guide you by His Word and His Holy Spirit. God never goes against His Word so no matter how much your feelings say going into a covenant marriage or a business partnership with someone who is an unbeliever is ok, it cannot be the right decision based on God’s Word.
Some people say I will just do it, as God is a merciful God. I will repent and ask God for forgiveness if it does not work out. Yes He is a merciful God and yes He does forgive if we confess and repent of our sins. The issue is that when we do this we are in essence tempting God which we shouldn’t. We also then have to live with the day to day unpleasant and grave consequences of our decision. So please don’t tempt God.
If on the other hand, you have gone down this part of being unequally yoked as a believer already, you don’t have to live in guilt and condemnation. If we confess our sins genuinely before God, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. So do confess your sin and go and sin no more. This is the admonition of the Lord Jesus.
Be abundantly blessed!!!