The Equal Yoke

Grace is an equal yoke. It is the right partnership. It is the basis for a right relationship.

"My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler. Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise." - Proverbs 6:1-6 ESV

A neighbor becomes a stranger once you cosign that loan. Why? You have just put money up based on their performance. You are saying, 'I trust that you will jump through the hoops.' and that has real relationship killing potential.

Grace creates an open passage for ministry and fellowship.

"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?" - 2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV

It is interesting that Jesus was born into a carpentry family. It was a sales and service environment.

'Would you like to buy these benches?' --- Money changes hands
'I can build that for you?' --- An amount is agreed upon and money changes hands

That is the kind of interaction where ministry can easily take place. Things don't have to be reciprocal. They can be very one sided and no enslavement will take place.

Partnership on the other hand must be 'grace based' or the person will become a stranger. That is why someone without faith is a bad business partner for someone who does believe. Business has an impersonal element that can quickly enter in that will demand a victim.

"Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." - Ephesians 4:28 ESV

"We labor, working with our own hands." - 1 Corinthians 4:12a ESV

"And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil." - Luke 6:34-35 ESV

This keeps the footing equal.

"And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." - Hebrews 4:13 ESV

You give an account for your life to God and I give an account to God for mine. You are not beholden to me and I am not beholden to you. Willing to transact. Willing to give. We can be neighbors and friends because we have an attitude of grace.

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Goods and Services

Every time money changes hands in a business transaction it can be boiled down to either the exchange of goods or services.

We see people getting involved in fly by night business schemes all the time don't we?

It is a good principle to understand when evaluating a potential business opportunity... what is the service being provided? Is there a product and what is the demand and distribution method? Interesting ideas are not always profitable ones.

God wants a different transaction.. He wants your heart. No product or service is produced or expected. God desires connection not profit.

That is why faith is not a work. It is intimate trust.

God gives us beauty for ashes. (see Isaiah 61:3)

"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." - Luke 16:13 NKJV

If we live life like it is a cold business transaction then we are in very bad company.

"You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire." - Ezekiel 28:14-16 ESV

Don't get me wrong I am all for good business practices. God wants a just balance.

It is important to understand that His relationship with us is not a business transaction. Our relationships to each other should not be either.

"And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." - Matthew 5:40-41 ESV

"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" - Matthew 16:26 KJV

Souls are worth more than all the world. Each one has value beyond all time and space. Love just does not function in that economy. God will only deal with us in grace. It is a gift given. It is a love relationship.

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