My grandfather homesteaded in eastern Montana not long after the beginning of the Twentieth Century and worked the old ways to farm. After recording his intentions with the Land Office, he began clearing acres of brush with an axe. Once the brush was cut down to ground level, it was Grandpa and a team of work horses for almost all tasks. He always prized his horses and was proud of his matched team. When you are doing field work, you must have a team that is balanced, each pulling the same and obeying your reining together. Everything depends upon them working in yoke together. 1
Paul uses the analogy of draft animals working together to remind the disciples of how to fulfill the intention of the LORD. God has a disciple lifestyle in mind for all who are in relationship with Him and wants that life to glorify Him no matter the activity.
Have you known people working together in opposite directions? It would be comical if it did not create such chaos. Whether in business, relationships, social action or ministry, divergent goals and the opposing ways of seeking those goals never produces harmony and seldom produces lasting benefits. Any two going in competing directions seldom make for harmony. Competition may be making them work harder but never do both parties win.
The LORD’s promise is to those who are willing to live yoked in His distinctiveness, to not seek to live compliant to both Him and that opposed to Him. While we will live in this world, we are not to be of this world but rather His kingdom, representative of Him in all of our life. It is impossible to be distinctively in His image while also trying to be compatible with His opposition. Our challenge is to commit to living in the LORD in all facets of life and fulfilling His desires above our society’s expectations for us.