Unequally yoked !

Some things in the world about us just do not mix.  For example, oil and water - their unique and individual molecular structures and properties are such that they simply do not combine naturally into one.
This is also true for other vital relationships in life.

The Scripture in  2 Corinthians 6:14-16 recorded  "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Many will be shocked to learn that this verses is not mainly referring to "marriage" but it can also mean which church one attends; of which clubs one is a member; which establishments one goes to for entertainment; which TV shows become a regular habit; with whom one becomes business partners; Etc.

The word "yoke" means a coupling as when two oxen are coupled or yoked together by a pulling beam to do work such as plowing a field or pulling a wagon.

So Paul is really telling the Corinthians congregation  that they should not be "unequally" yoked with those that practiced paganism or any works of darkness.  They were to avoid: "unbelievers, unrighteousness, darkness, Belial [an epithet of Satan], infidels, and idols."

The principle might be expressed thus : "Do not form any relationship, whether temporary or permanent, with unbelievers that would lead to a compromise of Christian standards or jeopardize consistency of Christian withness" (The Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 10, p.359)

Our Apple Tree

Touching Story - "Our Apple Tree"

A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree.  A little boy loved to come and play around it everyday.  He climbed to the tree top, ate the apples, and took a nap under the shadow.  He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him.  Time went by, the little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree every day.

One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad.

"Come and play with me", the tree asked the boy.

"I am no longer a kid, I do not play around trees any more" the boy replied.  "I want toys.  I need money to buy them."

"Sorry, but I do not have money, but you can pick all my apples and sell them.  So you will have money."

The boy was so excited.  He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily.  The boy never came back after he picked the apples.  The tree was sad.


One day, the boy who now turned into a man returned and the tree was excited.

"Come and play with me" the tree said.

"I do not have time to play.  I have to work for my family.  We need a house for shelter.  Can you help me?"

"Sorry, but I do not have any house.  But you can chop off my branches to build your house." 

So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily.  The tree was glad to see him happy but the man never came back since then.  The tree was again lonely and sad.

One hot summer day, the man returned and the tree was delighted.

"Come and play with me!" the tree said.

"I am getting old, I want to go sailing to relax myself.  Can you give me a boat?" said the man

"Use my trunk to build your boat.  You can sail far away and be happy."

So the man cut the tree trunk to make a boat.  He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.

Finally, the man returned after many years.  "Sorry, my boy.  But I do not have anything for you anymore.  No more apples for you" the tree said.  "No problem, I do not have any teeth to bite" the man replied.

"No more trunk for you to climb on."  "I am too old for that now" the man said.  "I really cannot give you anything, the only thing left is my dying roots," the tree said with tears.

"I do not need much now, just a place to rest.  I am tired after all these years," the man replied.

"Good!  Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest, come sit down with me and rest."  The man sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears.

This is a story of everyone.  The tree is like our parents.  When we were young, we loved to play with our Mum and Dad.  When we grow up, we leave them; only come to them when we needed something or when we are in trouble.  No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they could just to make you happy.

You may think the boy is cruel to the tree, but that is how all of us treat our parents.  We take them for granted; we don't appreciate all they do for us, until it's too late.



~ Moral:
Treat your parents with loving care .... For you will know their value, when you see their empty chair ... We never know the love of our parents for us; till we have become parents.

The Gift of Tongues

The gift of tongues manifests itself in three different ways.  First, it appears as a private prayer language (1 Corinthians 14:14-18).  Second, it appears as a missionary gift (e.g., Pentecost. See Acts 2:1-21).  Third, it appears as a revealatory gift when someone in the church receives a word from God in an unknown language, thus requiring the complementary gift of interpretation (1 Corinthians 12:10; 14: 1-19).  Doubtless, tongues are occassionally abused, but it must also be said that there are godly people who practice these gifts according to Paul's directives (i.e. biblically), and when done so, they are indeed a blessing.   - [Living Life July 2013]