Unmatched Teams

II Corinthians 6:14-7:1

A wagon train was organized as part of the celebration of the Bicentennial in 1976. It was to travel from the west coast to Washington, D.C. Granddad Jenkins and his brother were two of the participants, traveling across Colorado. Most of the wagons were pulled by horses, but one ox was used. Since only one could be found, he had to be paired with a horse.

It was quickly discovered that while he was stronger than the horses, the ox could not keep up with the horses. Horses could not pull as large a load but walked at four to five miles per hour, while the ox could only maintain about three miles per hour. By the end of a few miles, the horse was exhausted from trying to drag the ox, and the ox was exhausted from trying to keep up. The owners finally got another horse, and had the ox trucked from town to town. They only used him to help pull through the towns.

It is relatively easy to compensate for a strong horse pulling with a weaker one, but nearly impossible to compensate for the different walking speeds between a horse and an ox. It is relatively easy for a strong and a weak Christian to work together because they both have the mind of Christ. It is very difficult for a Christian to work full time with an unsaved person, because their mind set, and their understanding is so different.

II Corinthians 2:14-16 points out the inability to communicate fully. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” Neither will ever be fully able to understand the others logic, and this will produce unnecessary conflict. There is not enough in common to make it easy.

“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. (II Corinthians 6:14-17)

As Paul says in I Corinthians 6:12, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” I need to separate myself from any connection that seek to control my life in so far a s possible. We need also to realize that sometimes we can’t get out of ones we are already in, such as a marriage or a job. I Corinthians 6:14-7:40 deals with some of these.

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (II Corinthians 6:18-7:1)

A farmer kept several hens and ducks in a pen. That spring, about 25 chicks were hatched. Several duck eggs also hatched. A couple of hens were left with the chicks. Ducklings and chicks were together and while looking different, all acted like chickens.

One day the farmer let them out into the barnyard. The ducklings soon followed the other ducks into the pond, because water was not frightening to them. The chicks were frightened, and did not follow. From that time, the ducklings spent most of their time with the other ducks, and the chicks with the chickens. The ducklings learned to swim and dive for their food., and how to use the water to escape from predators. Learning to be ducks came naturally to them, while acting like chickens did not..

As Christians, we are not the same as the world. We have a different outlook. Until the ducklings began to separate themselves and learn to be ducks, their lives were little different than those of the chickens. They could have lived acting like chickens, but they would have never been chickens, there would always be an unfulfilled part of their life. Until we separate ourselves unto God, and allow him to treat us as his children, we may act like the world, but there will never be total satisfaction.