A Spiritual Lesson In Toon Language: Lesson 44b

Topic: Life Sentence II ' Unevenly Yoked

Series: Darkwing Duck

Episode: Beauty And The Beet

Lesson PDF link: 44b.pdf

Introduction

In this edition of 'Life Sentence', we are looking at a romantic match or lack thereof. We are seeing the elements of what will make a good marriage or not, because it is necessary to find the special someone without falling victim to someone in the wrong relationship (abusive, controlling etc.). We are using the Darkwing Duck episode "Beauty And The Beet" as we did several sessions ago (Lesson 42) because it has the clip we need this time as well on attempted forced marriage with a bad relationship.

Have you ever had a bad relationship; if so, what was it like? Last time, we were talking about the fact that only God can make our spouse. This time we are going to talk about one of the factors of a quality life with such a mate, this being the yoking of a marital couple. Yoking in farming is the act of teaming up a couple of animals to a sort of harness called a yoke. These animals work the ground or do other things that would require them and are a team; to be a team, they must work closely and do so in tandem.

A marriage is a kind of yoke --a binding contract which says that the two spouses are formally a team and are therefore yoked together.

However, there are ways of doing this and ways that shouldn't ever be done to do this.

The Bible States In Deuteronomy 22: 10

10 Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together.

This is a good rule seeing as they don't seem to like each other in any talk that I've heard about them together that close: the ox works hard and the donkey is stubborn and ornery--the ox and donkey together a lot of times will not work equally with each other, in fact they will probably hurt each other. This is the same in a marriage, you have to get along and work closely and be fitting to each other like the proverbial glove in the best case scenario.

Cartoon Clip: Our cartoon clip comes from the Darkwing Duck episode "Beauty And The Beet". We have used this clip before with our villain Dr. Bushroot. He constantly tries to fool with nature, but in this case he goes even further.

Cartoon Clip: "Beauty And The Beet":

What would be wrong with this type of marriage? In this clip, we find that Bushroot tries to force a relationship that he has already ruined by his actions namely intentionally mutating into a duck/plant hybrid. This lady has a lot of sense at least. Other than the fact that this marriage would be forced and a farce at the same time because of Bushroot's attitude in general, we see that Dr. Rhoda Dendron is not interested for various reasons citing her career, her variance in type compared to him (in more ways than one), but we can safely presume that she doesn't want to be forced to marry especially to someone with an attitude like his and definitely does not want to be mutated like he is. Dr. Dendron does not think the mutation idea would befit her for good reason.

We also have to look at the faith component. Cartoons like this one will not show literal Christendom, however they do show the principles of a Christian.

The Bible States In II Corinthians 6: 14-18

14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.'

17 Therefore, 'Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.'

18 And, 'I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.'

This is a solemn warning against idolatry, but I think this scripture passage is talking about marriage in general as well. Teaming up spiritually is one of the things that God has in mind mainly in a marriage. Dr. Bushroot and Dr. Dendron are likely very different spiritually. We are warned about people like Bushroot. If you marry your spouse with that person worshiping him or herself and not God, you would have a problem; self absorption is one of the main causes of marital problems because the one doing it will care little about the spouse--leaving him/her without proper care and appreciation, which can cause decay in any relationship.

What are your goals for your potential life with a marital mate? Goal setting is very important when talking about marriage. The two spouses have to work together spiritually and need to also support the same life goals in general, even though there will be some possible variance in career or personal goals. With me and my wife Bonnie, we are in ministry together even though we have different specialties. We have few variances in personal goals, but the ones that would come up would be supported by the other. We will work together to make it happen if at all possible. The spouses need to support each other in their hopes and dreams in the best case scenario. This isn't easy sometimes, however mutual satisfaction in physical and spiritual life is key in marriage. Dr. Bushroot and Dr. Dendron do not have the same goals even by a long shot and would never work or be satisfying. I don't see support on either side for personal dreams between the two. Thankfully, this marriage didn't happen; it would have been a disaster all the way around.

One always need to remember to keep God first in relationships especially like these and respect and appreciate the marriage partner granted by God and then the particular choices that are made when obtaining the marital mate. It is smart to pray first and let God choose. Before me and Bonnie got married, we unwittingly prayed for a year for the same thing--a quality mate; we are doing well maritally. I am sure that chances are great of a wonderful life together if prayer and discernment through that prayer time is key to finding that special someone. Life together should definitely be happily ever after (Til Death Do You Part).