Scripture: 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." 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NLT)

Observation: What does it mean to team up ("yoke up", "hitch") with unbelievers? Why are we told to avoid such a partnership? As illustrated by the picture of the donkey and the ox to be "unequally yoked" means binding up opposing forces together. One will dominate the other. They will veer off course. Does it mean we can't be friends or reach out to people around us who don't follow Jesus Christ? No. I believe it means do not put yourself in a position where you will be influenced by people who don't know God.This is why it's never wise for a Christian to marry an unbeliever. If two people marry and one becomes a Christian while the other doesn't that's a different matter. The Christian is then a witness to their spouse, praying for them, drawing them to Christ by their behavior/attitude in the marriage. Not the same thing as a Christian dating or marrying an unbeliever in the hopes of witnessing to them. 

I think this verse speaks to a variety of situations where a Christian might be "unequally yoked" or partnered to an unbeliever. You might have a great business opportunity but what if that person doesn't reflect your values? Is it worth it to have a job where you might have to make an uncomfortable choice as a Christian? Will your faith or conduct be impacted by association or can you be a positive influence? These are things to consider. When it comes to friends we should want people in our intimate circle to be Christians. People we can stand with in prayer, hold each other up, who share the same beliefs. We will have friends who are not Christians but we need to be careful and not tie up our lives with theirs. This could even be applied to who we are interacting with on the internet through blogs and chat rooms. Ideas and influence are a subtle thing. Scripture is what should influence our behavior as Christians so we need to be careful who we "yoke" to our lives.

Application: Know my boundaries. Pay attention to the kind of influence friends who don't know Christ might be having on my actions. Am I willing to overlook something from scripture because of the company I keep? Is my attitude toward God or other Christians being shaped by the opinions of unbelievers? Am I being a positive example of what it means to be a Christian?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank you for the opportunities you give me to reach out to others and the friends/acquaintances you've allowed to cross my path. Give me wisdom to know when I'm becoming teamed up or yoked with people who might have a negative impact on my faith. Help me not to fall into the trap of believing I can change other people. Strengthen the friendships I have with Christian friends so I can be an effective witness for your kingdom. In Jesus name…Amen.

Additional Thoughts: My husband has pointed out to me I've misrepresented my thoughts about friendships with non-Christians. I don't believe we should only have Christian friends or hide in the "Christian sub-culture".  We definitely need to be out in the world as salt and light, making friends, and being a friend, interacting daily with non-Christians. I do believe we need to take into account our spiritual maturity when making close connections.