Our first step toward spiritual enlargement will be a step away from worldly influences and ungodly persons. God's people are commanded to keep themselves separate from infidels, and pure from the ways and practices of the heathen. Israel's repeated failure to follow this commandment brought them into great distress; we can expect no less.

1. Moving Toward Enlargement-- Recieving Instruction
Paul’s directive to the Corinthians was, “Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” How do you read his statement? Do you read it as if it were good advice? as good counsel these brethren ought to consider? If so, then carefully consider the following. His statement is not advice, it’s a command.

The imperative mood (in NT Gr. lang.) corresponds to the English imperative, and expresses a command to the hearer to perform a certain action by the order and authority of the one commanding.

Paul's statement, "Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers", is in the imperative mood. Paul is speaking to these brethren with the love and authority of an apostle. Like the Corinthians, many today have become careless and undiscerning when selecting friends. Perhaps its because they aren't aware of the danger and woeful consequences. On the other hand, others have just been careless in their reading and application of scripture. These suppose, this and other similar verses are given as suggestions which may be followed as an optional course of action. Failure to recieve instruction as intended will prevent you from becoming spiritually enlarged; it will insure straitness.

2. Moving Toward Enlargement --Recieving Wisdom
In addition to this direct command, Paul gives several analogies which illustrate the logic and wisdom of compliance.

1. “What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?”
   The object in question here is the suitability of joint participation (fellowship). A person with integrity is genuinely interested in living a pure life and acting upon virtuous principles. What mutual participation can he\she expect to have with someone fundamentally opposed to such principles?

2. “What communion hath light with darkness?”
   The issue in question here is that of compatibility (communion). Light and darkness are incompatible with each other; so also are believers and unbelievers. Attempts by believers to make it otherwise will be accompanied by the experience of spiritual straitness.

   This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 1 John 1:5,6

3. “And what concord hath Christ with Belial?
   This statement questions the possibility of the two "striking a bargain". It is directed to those Corinthians who had (supposedly) figured out a way to compromise with infidels and be Christians simultaneously.

   Belial signifies either Satan or the impure religious practices of the heathen. Christ does not "bargain" with the devil. The account of Satan's attempt to compromise Christ makes that quite clear. (Matt. 4; Luke 4) There can be no harmony between Christ and Belial.

   As a side note, the English word symphony is a transliteration of the Greek word translated "concord". The word presents an interesting picture of a musical symphony in which many diverse instruments harmonize together. In a symphony, diverse instruments are able to harmonize because they are all playing the same tune.

   Though diverse instruments are able to harmonize, yet not so with Christ and Belial. Christ and Belial can not harmonize because it would be like diverse instruments playing entirely different tunes.
   Likewise, if a symphony consisting of believers and infidels were possible, what tune would the believer be called to play? As Christ hath no part in such an arrangement , the believer would have to renounce Christ to harmonize with the infidel.

4. “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?”
   There were no idols allowed in God's temple, "Thou shalt not make any graven images."

   The force of this statement is directed at the mixing of things that are holy with things that are profane. It indicates a putting together or joint deposit. The heathen could have many gods because they had a common denominator of zero. Not so with Christianity..."for to us there is one God". The Christian claim of one true God implies the gods of the heathen are nothing. For this reason Christians have always been odious to the world. Believers who compromise their profession are attempting to change this. However, they will discover, through an experience of spiritual straitness, that they have become odious unto God.

These illustrations show the wisdom of compliance and the inconsistency of those that compromise with the world. When we consider God's gracious providential dealings with us, it appears reasonable to give ourselves wholly unto the Lord.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1

3. Moving Toward Enlargement --Taking Action
Paul's command, Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers", is reasonable and consistent with our calling. When it is disregarded spiritual straitness will follow. To prevent it, we must be circumspect; this is no time for carelessness. Additionally, where needed, decisive action must be taken. For those desiring to become spiritually enlarged, Paul gives specific help.

Decisive Action Needed:

• “Ye are the temple of the living God.”- Be aware of purpose and position
  These brethren were very focused on themselves and their problems. They had lost sight of their purpose and place in God's plan. With these words Paul brings them to face the reality of what they are relative to their calling of God. Like the physical building at Jerusalem, they could be abandoned of God and “trodden down of the Gentiles”, or they could be a praise and a blessing-- a holy place for service and the special presence of God.

• “Wherefore come out from among them.”- Move away from corrupting influences
  By their fellowship with unbelievers, they had moved away from the sphere of fellowship with God. However, restoration was an option to them but it required making a break in their relationship with infidel friends and associates.

• “Be ye separate saith the Lord.”- Live a consecrated life
  With this Old Testament quote, Paul shows them the corrective action needed; be ye separate. There must be no mixing and mingling. Failure to follow this command was the cause of their present delema. Their hope for recovery was by careful compliance.

• “Touch not the unclean thing.”- Use Discernment
  Not only must they be separate, but they must not touch the unclean thing. (morally unclean) This denotes the affections as well as persons or objects. The Corinthians had not carefully made a distinction between the “holy and the profane” and between the “clean and the unclean”. As a result they had become polluted and defiled by impure affections, associations, and conduct. This had made them unfit for service and fellowship with God. For this reason they were spiritually straitened.

Since the first century, no generation has needed to relearn this lesson as badly as our own. Like the Corinthians, our service and usefulness can be greatly reduced and limited by spiritual straitness. This problem not only affects the general membership- it affects the ministry as well, only with greater consequences. We can do better. There is positive action we can take. With God's instructive grace teaching us, and our careful compliance to it, we can become spiritually enlarged - we can be a praise and a blessing.

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