Avoid The Trap of Unequally Yoke Marriages

"She is free to marry anyone she wishes—but he must belong to the Lord." 1 Corinthians 7:39

Every year on June 4, Joseph gives a book of poetry to his wife, Jane. They met in a poetry class in college when she had forgotten the assigned book one day and he loaned her his copy. June 4 is their wedding anniversary, and Joseph’s annual gift reminds them of how they met all those years ago.

Take care now on you make marital connections. You profess Christ as your Lord? You do well, therefore, don’t ever put yourself in a position where you begin to date a non-believer hoping that your witness will win him or her to Jesus!

Never consent to marry any one in opposition to the plain teachings of God's holy Word. Remember it was unequally yoke marriages between saints and sinners–which brought the Jews into such distress after their return from the Babylonian captivity. It was such a marriage that brought all the troubles of Samson upon him; and it was marrying with unconverted women that led away Solomon's heart from God. The strongest and wisest of men were thus overcome, and therefore you should also be on your guard.

Think of its effects on your own spirituality—of the consequence to your children—of the bad impression it makes on the world—and the mischief it introduces into the church. It is one of Satan's chief snares—one of his most powerful engines; therefore beware of it.  Don’t set yourself up for failure.

Settle it in your minds now; determine, in God's strength, that you never will yield to this temptation—to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever. A man must be intimately acquainted with the entire history of God's church from the beginning, and then he would require the arm of an angel, and the intellect of an archangel—to write down all the mischief, misery, and sin, that has resulted from the mixed marriage of believers and unbelievers! If such a volume were written, it would take more than a lifetime to read it. But it is written, it will be read; for when time shall be no more—when it is too late to correct the wrong or make amends for our mistakes—we shall see, in the clearest light, what have been the fearful consequences of such unhallowed connections.

I know you think that you will be the exception! But don’t fool yourself – no one is. To be the exception would mean that God’s Word has cease being alive, powerful and predictable (2 Cor. 6:14-18).  When the last breath is taken and history stands no more, these words will forever stand, “God is true and every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4).

If you are living with a boyfriend or girlfriend who is not a believer, you are already in deep bondage and heading for real time disaster. Getting out of such a relationship especially if sex has already been occurring is next to impossible. Your only hope is a miracle from God. You need to be delivered. Pray that God steps in and awakens you of your situation and then comes to your aid. By yourself, you will continue to do what you are doing until you are broken beyond belief.

If you like someone who is a non-believer, then pray for the person salvation and wait patiently on God to show you His will regarding the person. Remember, as long as such a person remains unsaved, that person is NEVER the will of God for your life. Don’t rush a head of God thinking that you can work out your own happy and successful destiny. If you think that, the devil has you right where he wants you.

You may know someone who married a person who wasn’t a Christian who later became one and their marriage has turned out wonderful. This may be true, but you do not know the hidden repercussions that occurred. The end never justifies the means. Just the fact that you are thinking of such and using it as an example that there are exceptions proves my point.  Many will try and many will fail over one example.

As a single believer, remember, you are free to marry whomever you choose, as long as he or she also is a committed believer. And do not settle for a mere profession of faith. Be doubly sure that the person you marry loves God with all his or her heart and is truly saved. Look for the fruit of the Spirit – a change life and heart, and don’t settle for anything less, like hearing the right words in a person’s profession of faith.

Now go and with God’s help, find your soul-mate! Just be sure that before you attach yourself to a person as a soul-mate, you know for certain that such a person already has his or her soul attached to the Lord.  This way, you too can look forward to celebrating your wedding anniversaries in creative and thankful ways, since you did it right in the beginning!