Bible Reading: Exodus 2; Job 19; Luke 5; 1 Corinthians 6
1 Corinthians 6:7-8 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
It is a sad day when Christian brothers and sisters sue one another before secular courts of law. This isn't something new. It was happening 2000 years ago in Corinth. The sad reality is that sometimes earthly and temporal things seem to be more important the eternal things. However, this appalled the apostle Paul and when he heard it he wrote, inspired by the Holy Spirit to bring it to their attention. Now if an apostle is writing an inspired document appalled, how does God feel about these things? He is appalled!
1 Corinthians 6:1-3 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
As believers, we will judge this world. As believers we shall judge angels. If we are to do these things, why can we not arbitrate between brothers and sisters in our church? If we will judge in eternal matters, can we not with God's Word and wisdom settle temporal matters here between brothers and sisters?
1 Corinthians 6:4-5 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
For Paul, the petty matters of this life pale in comparison to the eternal matters that we should be concerned with. For this reason, he says set those least esteemed in the church over the matter of settling earthly squabbles. He says this to shame them. What are these petty earthly squabbles that should be easily settled with some godly wisdom? Estate squabbles between Christian brothers and sisters after the death of their parents, divorce cases between Christians (by the way, Jesus says not to do this anyway), business deals between two Christian businessmen, etc. How sad that heaven and hell hang in the balance and we are squabbling over paving material in heaven!
For this reason, Paul says it is better to be defrauded and wronged than to go to a court of law with a brother or sister in Christ. These things should be prayerfully and lovingly handled among believers. Let's get our priorities straight. Live for eternity.
In Christ,
Rody
