Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Today's Passage

1 Corinthians 6:1-8

If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother goes to law against another-and this in front of unbelievers! The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.

Paul mentioned here the principle of settling despites among Christians. Firstly in verse 7 he says that Christians should not sue one another because it is totally inconsistent with the principle of spiritual life. Human beings often emphasize the right and wrong due to the self-centered and self-righteous nature. However, the spiritual principle is different.

In the spiritual life, the emphasis is not about right and wrong, the emphasis in the church is love and denying oneself. Only in love and self-denial can we love one another and support one another. Let me say it again. It is not that right and wrong is not important. I have discovered that arguing about who is right and who is wrong is only to prove one's self-righteousness. When this happens, the church suffers because the church is divided. Pray that God will help us see that this is not the heart of Christ Jesus. The Lord gave Himself for us. He suffered much wrong for us so that the great work of redemption may be accomplished in our lives. Today you and I have to follow the example of Christ's love, and love one another.

It says here why not rather be wronged for the Lord. This does not mean blindly suffering wrong. Paul was referring to disputes among believers in this passage. If the dispute is not between believers or is between believers and non-believers, you can definitely take them to court. However, when it comes to dispute among the Christians, we should come to church pastor and seek God's guidance for a fair and just way to resolve the dispute. I believe that the Spirit of God will guide us in the path to take. If the dispute still cannot be resolved, and needs to go back to legal system, that is fine too. The real principle behind this is, as Christians, we should not defraud others, and especially, not defraud our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, we pray you will remind us once again that you have given yourself for us to accomplish the great salvation in our lives. Pray Lord that you will help us follow your example of suffering. Let us be willing to seek your guidance and wisdom in resolving any conflicts we have with other believers within the church. We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!