Introduction

In our daily lives we make decisions all of the time. Simple things like choosing what to eat, what to wear, where to shop, and which brand to buy.

In the religious world, we have decisions to make as well. These, sometimes, require more thought. These decisions become a life-changing event in the spiritual realm. In Joshua’s farewell address, he challenged his people to make a very important decision…

“Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14-15)

In the New Testament, Jesus tells us to make a choice as well, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)

The decision you make is what yoke you’ll be wearing for the rest of your life. It’s either the Yoke of Jesus or the Yoke of Sin. And, as Jesus stated in Mt. 6:24, you can’t wear both.

What is a Yoke?

This inspiration of this article comes from Jesus’ statement in Mt. 11:29. We’ll look at that in just a moment. There are some who might not even know what a yoke is, so we’ll look at the definition.

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary—YOKE

1. A piece of timber, hollowed or made curving near each end, and fitted with bows for receiving the necks of oxen; by which means two are connected for drawing. From a ring or hook in the bow, a chain extends to the thing to be drawn, or to the yoke of another pair of oxen behind.

2. A mark of servitude; slavery; bondage.

3. A chain; a link; a bond of connection; as the yoke of marriage.

4. A couple; a pair; as a yoke of oxen.

5. Service. My yoke is easy. (Mt. 11:29)

Naturally, some will be upset or offended by the use of the word ‘slave’, yet it is the perfect description of what all of us are. As the apostle Paul writes, Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? (Romans 6:16) Depending on how we live our lives is our choice of yoke that we wear.

The Yoke of Jesus

What is considered an invitation, Jesus makes this statement, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Regardless of the denominational world will tell you, we are affixed with a yoke when we follow Christ. It’s helps us to stay on that strait and narrow path (Mt. 7:14). Some people give you the illusion that there are no commands to follow in the New Testament and that those 27 books are simply “Love Letters from Christ.”

However, if you read Matthew 6 and 7 of what is known as the Sermon on the Mount, you will read quite a few commands. Most “Christians” can’t get past the beatitudes.

Unlike following the Old Law which had you under a greater yoke of bondage (Gal. 5:1-3) where you were required to make offerings and sacrifices on a daily basis. In Galatians 5, Paul speaks of those Judaizing Christians who wanted everyone to become a proselyte Jew first, before converting as a Christian.

There was animosity against the Gentiles who weren’t commanded to be circumcised. Paul addresses this early on in Gal. 2, when he confronts the apostle Peter for playing the hypocrite (vs. 11-14).

Even Jesus uses a farming example, concerning this, when he says, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62) You can’t keep looking back on your old life and assume you’re moving forward in a straight line.

Paul adds, Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him (Colossians 3:9-10). This is also why you can’t wear both yokes.

The Yoke of Sin

Naturally, those who are not Christians, nor even the slightest bit religious, believe that they are not under a yoke because they do: what they want, when they want, how they want, and with who they want. Yet, they are under a yoke because that’s where Satan wants them. He’s the puppet master pulling the strings to encourage those to stay away from anything remotely religious.

Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.” (John 8:34) The apostle Peter adds, While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. (2 Peter 2:19)

You’ve heard the phrases, “Follow your Heart” and “Let your conscience be your guide”. These are invented by the devil to keep you away from God’s word. It’s true that the conscience can be molded and shaped by His holy scriptures, but most just go with what they call, “a gut instinct”.

For example, there’s the notion that stealing is okay provided you’re stealing food to feed yourself, or your family, because you can’t afford it. If you put that much effort into finding a job, as you do in stealing food, you’d be that much better off.

Paul writes, For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:7-10)

Paul also writes, Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. (Ephesians 4:28)

Conclusion

There are too many people out there who choose not to contribute to society and yet they expect their, “fair share”. Instead of being yoked to Satan, take the yoke of Christ and utilize what God has given you to make yourself a good example to others. As Jesus stated, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)