I once had a dog that I could not get to walk on a leash. She would be walking along fine. Then I’d put a leash on her and she would freeze in her tracks. Literally just hunker down in place and not move. I was in a place that she really needed to be on a leash and I needed her to walk. I decided that I’d try hooking her to my other dog that would walk on a leash. My thought was that she would walk with the other dog. Well that didn’t work, she did the same thing. Plus now my other dog had stopped walking because she had stopped.
This can be compared to the relationships that we have. These principles can apply to relationships of those that are married or considering marriage. It can also apply to who we choose as close friends. The closer the relationship, the more effect that it has on a person.
We must be careful in our relationships with who we yoke up with. As it says Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV). Because if you are yoked or partnered with someone that believes the opposite of what you believe you will constantly be pulling against each other. Thus it will affect your walk with God. Because instead of being able to walk freely forward you will be having to pull against someone pulling away.
What about being yoked with someone that does believe the same, but they are just not committed to a constant movement forward? A person like this can just sit down on you. They can hunker down where they are and possibly stop the progress of their partner. Just like the unbeliever pulling in a different direction, this has the same effect. It hinders someone’s walk with God.
It may be a myriad of things that they may sit down on. Whatever the thing is though it is tied to sacrifice and submission it is most likely rooted in discipline or a lack thereof. They don’t want to give up some type of control in their life. They don’t want to be led.
To the one striving to live for God, be careful of the companions that you choose. As it says in Proverbs 12:26 (NKJV) The righteous should choose his friends carefully.
To the one that would just stop, the one that hunkers down. I would say be careful that you don’t cause your brother or sister to stumble by having to pull on you. The Word of God has some very serious warnings about this. Jesus said in Luke 17:1-2 (WEB) 1…“It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.
That’s serious! Instead of being a hindrance let’s consider how to provoke one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24 WEB).
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NET 9 Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will help his companion up…
This can be the results if we have relationships with people that are going the same direction. People who are encouraging and helping us move forward. Let’s be people that work and walk together.
Amos 3:3 KJV Can two walk together, except they be agreed?