Today’s Reading:
2Corin. 6:14-18
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness! 15) And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16) 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.’ 17) Therefore, ‘Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. 18) I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My Sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty. (2Corin. 6:14-18)
The alliance Paul may have in mind in this passage could be mix marriages, improper business associations, or relationship with pagan idolaters of his time (1Corin. 10:14; Neh. 10). Also, he could be referring to association with false apostles of his days. Because he considered these false prophets responsible for the schism in his relationship with the Corinthian church (v. 14); 2Corin. 11:13-15). God delivered the Israelites so that they could have a cordial, free and holy relationship with himself, devoid of pagan influences. Paul’s argument is that for the people to attain and enjoy personal holiness with God, the Corinthians likewise needed to separate ties with pagan idolaters and false prophets and apostles.
It is not that Paul is saying that believers should avoid contact with unbelievers as such. He even encourage Christians to associate with the unsaved of the world (1Corin. 5:9-10). But his concern was for the Corinthian church community, so that they are not led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ (2Corin. 11:3). This is the same for believers of today. A good example of this is the story of king Solomon and his many pagan wives, that turned his heart from the way of God (1kgs. 11). In 1Corinthinans 9 Paul says he conformed with the culture and practices of those with whom he worked. “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” (v. 22) Paul never compromise on his beliefs and behaviour that were governed by the gospel; but he was flexible and adaptable on those matters that were not.
To indulge in idolatrous practices is to defile God’s temple in us, because Christians, individually or collectively are the temple, the habitation of the Holy Spirit. God the creator of the heavens and the earth and everything in them is alive – a living God. It cannot be compared to any dead god of the idols.
Relationship generally is especially important in life, and close healthy and godly relationship is of greater blessing to our Christian living. The passage today warned against any relationship that makes us stray from or compromise God’s purpose, will, plan for us, and also our Christian faith. If otherwise, we are to ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom, to help to eliminate wrong, ungodly relationships and to provide us with healthy godly friendships.
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayer:
Father, thank you for relationships. Lord in my relationships, help me to know my limits on beliefs and behaviours that governs the gospel and the Christian faith, in Jesus name.
Father, deliver me from my faulty foundation from both sides of the family, in Jesus name.
Holy Ghost fire, crush every human embargo in my life to irreparable pieces, in Jesus name.
Let your kingdom come o God; break with your iron rod the tyrannies of sin and wickedness, in Jesus name.
We frustrate every satanic external influences over our nation, in Jesus name.
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