Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Too Close for Comfort
Today's Verse:
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? ~2 Corinthians 6:14
In my third year of business school, I will never forget a statement that my instructor for a management class made. He said, “It’s more important who you know than what you know.” By this, he was referring to having the right associations and contacts in your career. The right associations can be extremely beneficial, or they can be horribly hurtful. In 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, Paul teaches about the often disregarded doctrine of separation. When we do not have the right associations, we can be involved in relationships that are “too close for comfort.”
There is the principle in separation.
Separation means to keep ourselves at a safe distance from associations, friendships, and dealings with unsaved individuals. The guidelines in this would include keeping a safe distance from carnal and worldly Christians as well. Our fellowship with the unsaved should not be so close that we are conforming more to the unsaved than they are to Christ. Righteousness has no fellowship with unrighteousness; light has no communion with darkness; Christ has no concord with Belial; a believer cannot have fellowship, partnership, co-mingling, or dealings with an infidel or unbeliever; the temple of God has no agreement with idols. Scriptural separation has its roots in the fact that we are to be holy, even as God is holy.
There is the prohibition in separation.
Separation does not mean isolation. Jesus said that we are in the world, but we should not be like the world. There are some very clear and critical rules of prohibition when it comes to our separation. Christians should not date or marry an unsaved individual. Christians should not go into business as partners or co-shareholders with unsaved people. Christians should not co-mingle at parties and functions with unsaved people where there is drinking of alcoholic beverages, consumption of addicting substances, or ungodly behavior is conducted. We are commanded to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.
There is the precept in separation.
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (v. 17). We are commanded to come out from among our unsaved dealings that are too close for comfort! In fact, using words from the Book of Leviticus, we are to "touch not the unclean thing." Our associations at school, work, and after work hour events can get us so close to the unsaved that we lose our influence and our testimony. The likelihood is that the unsaved wield more influence in changing us than in us changing them. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord”!
There is the protection in separation.
When we obey the Lord in this area, we have His incredible umbrella of protection. We are protected from emotional heartache. We are protected from a failed marriage and children who turn out ruined. We are protected from financial loss and even legal liability. We are protected from a watered down testimony that bears no witness at the most critical time. Think about Lot and the lack of influence that he had on his sons-in-law when it was time to depart from Sodom. God designed separation for our protection!
There is the preciousness in separation.
“And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (v. 18). We must remember that separation from dealings with the unsaved also implies Who we are separating to! We are separating to be closer to the Lord, so that there is a clear resemblance that we are His children. The closer we get to Jesus, the sweeter our relationship to God becomes.
Don’t despise God’s command for separation. See this as God’s preventive care for successful spiritual living. Let’s be enlarged or big in this matter (v. 13). Be careful of being too close for comfort.
Have a holy God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Hosea 8-14
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