Yoked UP

Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future. 

This is what my Great Grandma Ada would say and how true it is. 

There’s something about relationships that goes beyond what we see. Sometimes we underestimate the power of influence and association, but the truth is, who we yoke up  with impacts our lives greatly. 

“Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭20‬

Notice in this verse that wisdom spreads and foolishness does too. So, when I’m around the right people the right stuff is coming to me. When I’m around the wrong people the wrong stuff is coming to me.

This applies to attitudes, behaviors, speech, locations, ideology, opportunities, health, growth and more.

When we are with the right people, all of these things in our lives can be directed toward God so that we maximize our ability. When we are with the wrong people, all of these things are directed downward and we are minimized and stunted.

So the question is, who are the right people for our lives?

“14. Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15. What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬-‭15‬

The Bible is clear that we are to Yoke UP or team up with people that are going with God.

This is referencing a yoke they would use for oxen and how this equipment would link two oxen together to plow. It would keep both of these animals going in the same direction and utilizing both of their strengths to get the job done. They be would connected through the yoke and from that, they achieve their potential.

For us, when we yoke up in marriage and in friendships, it must be with those who are going toward Jesus like us.

If not, trouble is coming because you are not equally yoked or teamed up. There is an imbalance and that causes division in values, beliefs and direction.  

This is massive for our lives because all of us have relationships at multiple levels, and when we get this right, so many things in our lives goes right and it’s easier. 

When we get this wrong, so many things in our lives goes wrong and it’s harder. 

This is why who we choose to yoke up with determines so much in our present, and in our future. Therefore, we must understand God doesn’t make us do this, it’s our choice.

To go further, there’s a difference between who we’re yoked up and who we are friends with.

Yoked up speaks of doing life together, coming alongside each other in a deeper friendship and of course in marriage. This is who we share our hearts with, open up for support and we do the same for them. 

Fiends are those we value and love but maybe for a variety of reasons, we have boundaries or have certain settings where we connect. This is good and healthy because not all friendships are equal. Navigating this with clarity is a big deal because we must know the difference between who we yoke up and who we’re friends with.

To be clear, the Bible speaks of us being friends with those who don’t believe in Jesus. We are to love them and lead them to Christ. But in doing that, we don’t yoke up with them. There’s a difference and we must walk it out in wisdom with boundaries. 

So, who are you yoked up with?

If you find yourself in a marriage, that is not equally yoked, I want to encourage you that your faith is working. In fact, your faith is blessing the home and the peace of God is there because of you. Don’t give up, keep praying for your spouse. I believe God is working through your prayers and they will change. 

“For the believing wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the believing husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy.”

1 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭14‬

If you find yourself, yoked up with friends that are not following Christ and going in the right direction, I encourage you to set boundaries and reevaluate who you are yoked up with. 

Move forward with the wise and be wise. Move forward with those who are stronger and be strong. Move forward with those that are clean and be clean. Move forward with those that are healthy and be healthy. This is how it works and this is why we must Yoke UP with the right people. 

I encourage you to have healthy boundaries. Set yourself up for a win in this area and let God lead your way.

When yoked up friends change, that’s ok. Keep moving forward and be yoked up with the right people.

Have a great day and God is with you,

PD