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| Be Wise - Mend Your Fences and Your Relationships |
If you have legal disputes about such
matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? I am
saying this to shame you. Isn't there anyone in all the church who is wise
enough to decide these issues? But instead, one believer sues another—right in
front of unbelievers! Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat
for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let
yourselves be cheated? Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and
cheat even your fellow believers. 1 Corinthians 6:4-8
People just seem to be ”sue” crazy. If
anyone wrongs them, they take them to court. Those same people just seem to
wear their feeling on their sleeve—they are so easily offended. Be sure to
treat them with kid gloves or they’ll be running to their lawyer. Should we be
afraid of a lawsuit? Only if we deserve it…and then we should just be ashamed
of ourselves, not afraid of others. Paul is telling the folks at the church in Corinth
that they shouldn’t be suing their Christian brothers. Jesus taught that we are
to love one another…and is bringing a lawsuit a loving action? He also taught
that we are to turn the other cheek. You
have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: 'An eye for
an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say, do not resist an evil person! If
someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are
sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. Matthew
5:38-40. Have things really changed much since Jesus or Paul’s time? Think
about your actions…how to mend broken relationships rather than retaliate.
Prayer
~ Dear Jesus, help us to consider how we would treat others the way You would
treat them rather than doing everything in our won way and our won time. May we
show You love in all that we think, say and do.
© 2016 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT)
unless otherwise noted.
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