My wife and I once visited the world famous San Diego Zoo. It was immense and incredibly diverse. While viewing these animals, it occurred to us that the zoo operates on a biblical principle. When the Lord created the world, He created the animals “after their kind” and told them to “multiply,” and they did so “after their kind” (Genesis 1:20-25). With few exceptions, these animals in the zoo are kept separate from one another to maintain tranquility.

Most of the Apostle Paul’s letters address problems in the lives of the believers to whom he wrote. For instance, the Corinthians needed correction about being divided, reveling in heinous immorality, being unloving, and lacking in giving to the work of the Lord. Paul continued his correction by telling them, “Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers,” (II Corinthians 6:14). Those who genuinely knew the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior were willingly being joined in marriage with those who did not know Christ. This was a formula for spiritual and marital disaster. Although some animals in zoos may live in somewhat close proximity, those who keep these animals do not indiscriminately put them together. Cats were not meant to live with birds, nor lions with lambs, nor foxes with chickens. It doesn’t take a lot of foresight to realize most of them are completely incompatible, and some would be readily devoured. The same is true regarding believers who join in marriage with unbelievers. The Lord has never intended for these two to live together in the bond of marriage. The two are simply incompatible with different goals, standards, philosophies, and especially with different spiritual responses. Paul explains, “What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness…[or] light with darkness…or he that believeth with an infidel?” (6:14-15). Yet, far too many believers have knowingly ignored Paul’s warning by entering into an unequal spiritual yoke in marriage with an unbeliever. Usually, the result is that the spiritual walk of the Christian is devoured by the non-Christian, or the marriage falls apart because they are not even close to being compatible.

Are you contemplating marriage? You can save yourself a great deal of heartache by not dating anyone, even one time, who is not saved, does not embrace right division, or is not serious minded about living for the Lord. Don’t let your life and spiritual walk be devoured by joining in an unequal yoke. Find joy and compatibility with a fellow believer of like precious faith.