My 6-year-old son loves Magnetix. Unlike Legos, which are snapped together and pried apart,magnetized pieces that attract or repel make building easy. According to my son, his set will even jump out of its storage area and onto the floor without any assistance. Yeah, right . . .
When it comes to relationships, attraction is definitely not to be toyed with. For believers in Jesus, God’s Word commands us to pursue romantic relationships only with persons of the opposite sex who are also true believers (v.14). We should be deliberate in our closest relationships (1 Corinthians 7:39).
Paul wasn’t advocating that we hide in a Christian subculture. He knew how important it is for us to have relationships with unbelievers so that we can tell them about Jesus (Colossians 4:5-6). Boundaries in our relationships, however, are important. And they have everything to do with understanding koinonia. The Greek word for fellowship, koinonia implies communion and intimacy. It means much more than simply getting to know someone. The idea is that your intimate fellowship will allow you to draw life from each other.
To grow that close to an unbeliever can lead us to adopt their views and choices (Exodus 23:32). In our relationships with people who don’t know Jesus, we must be on our guard against compromise with sin (Psalm 1:1). This includes not taking on attitudes and actions that deny God’s call to make healthy changes in our own lives (Romans 16:19).
David made a commitment to draw strength only from those who made the Lord their dwelling place (Psalm 119:63). We should do the same. Our ability to reach others for Jesus is greatly influenced by those we draw closest to.
More:
• Proverbs 27:17
• Galatians 5:9
• Hebrews 10:23-25
Next:
Why is it important that your closest relationships be with true believers? How can you avoid relationships that hinder your obedience to Jesus?
marcia.arumugam on August 13, 2009 at 3:42 am
Lord, make me an instrument for the works you have in mind for me to do. Draw me closer to children in the same flock who long to do your work and fervently seek Your Kingdom first.
My strength is in the Lord although my flesh may be weak as I am human only. But the Lord enables me to work for His glory at all times. Alleluia. I praise the Lord for all times. Amen
Dixie on August 13, 2009 at 5:48 am
Thank you for this reminder. I find myself being so concerned over who my kids associate with and what they listen to, and sometimes forget that I may be the only reminder of Christ to them. I need to be more conscious of my choices of words, attitudes, actions and even humor, so that I may not compromise the walk I have and want them to follow. Kids are not ignorant, they watch, and we have such an incredible responsibility to them and our Lord to not hinder them in anyway. Lord, help me. Thanks to all.
tmonique80 on August 13, 2009 at 9:12 am
Thanks for this!
mikeytj on August 13, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Hi,
I’m glad to be a new member here. Tangle for some reason would not show my comment so I will leave it here. Your verse in 2 Cor appears to be related more towards dealing with all folks, not our spouces, as do most of the other quoted verses. Here in 1Co Chapter 7 the subject of unbelieving spouces is addressed specifically.
1Co 7:12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.
1Co 7:13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.
1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
1Co 7:15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.
1Co 7:16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
Don’t take the comments wrong in that I’m dis agreeing with your commentary on dealing with unbelievers in general. Our problem in today’s life is that through work, friends, social events, and much more we do not have a choice (the majority of us) in who we deal with and work (often seen as being yoked with) every day.
Along with the Bibles comments on spouces saving each other, I would offer that if, 43 years ago, two twin brother farm boys from KY had not just lived their lives amongst those of us that did not yet know Jesus, and let us see in them something we didn’t have but wanted, there is no telling where this ole sinner would have ended up.
We are meant to be examples to all of the joys of coming into God’s presence through Jesus Christ and walking step by step through life with God holding our right hand (Isa 41:13) For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Thanks for hearing me out.
God Bless,
Mike
regina franklin on September 8, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Dear Mike,
Thanks so much for your feedback. I can definitely see where you are coming from.
To add to the dialogue–I often think of the word “yoked” as a choosing to go the same direction as. So when I think of being yoked in relationships, I think of the level of influence someone has in my life. We couldn’t be the salt and light Christ commands us to be if we didn’t have interaction with unbelievers (through work and social interaction).
I do think, however, when it comes to relationships of intimacy, believers need to evaluate the level of influence someone has in our lives.
Just a few thoughts.
Blessings!
Regina