Week 47 2 Corinthians 6
Paul told church-people in Corinth do not be yoked together with unbelievers (other versions say things like don’t be bound together or don’t team up or don’t make mismatched alliances).
So I’m wondering: “who are my real friends?”
For one thing Paul isn’t saying I have to totally isolate yourself from every person who does not believe in the Lord. Social connections with people who couldn’t care less about the Lord are normal (they’re unavoidable). I could not not have those contact even if I wanted to. So Paul’s advice here can’t really be about connections like working at the plant or eating lunch or playing ball or helping a guy stain his deck. But it does have to do with being paired-up.
I figure the verse is telling me I have a) a bunch of First Level Connections and b) a bunch of Second Level Connections.
My First Level Connections are with people who follow the Lord. They think like he did. Act like him. Share his values. Endorse & promote him.
My Second Level Connections are people I work with & live next door to & am friends with. But they don’t follow the Lord.
In a lot of ways my First Level Connections and my Second Level Connections share common ground.
The big question – the one that makes all the difference when it comes to First & Second Level Connections – is: does this person follow the Lord?
Note: quotes from 2 Corinthians 6:14 (NIV NASB NLT & Amplified)