Should a Christian go into business with an unbeliever?

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14; cf. Deuteronomy 22:10). Many times, this verse is taken to be a prohibition against Christians marrying non-Christians. Marriage would definitely apply here, but there is nothing in the context to limit it to marriage. All types of “unequal yokes” are forbidden—marriages, intimate friendships, ecclesiastical ties, and business partnerships.

The command implies that a great difference exists between the believer and the unbeliever. Generally speaking, the motivations, goals, and methods of a Christian are incompatible with those of the world. Faith changes the character of a man. A Christian’s highest ambition in life is to glorify the Lord Jesus and please Him in all things; an unbeliever is, at best, indifferent to such aims. Even if we seem to have much in common with an unbeliever, the heart resides in an entirely different realm.

Second Corinthians 6:14 goes on to ask, “And what communion hath light with darkness?” People are said to be “in communion” when they share something. Business partners are united in such a way that they must share things—what belongs to one also belongs to the other. This is precisely what is meant by “communion.” Our advice is to stick with scripture, and avoid uniting with unbelievers. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3).

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