Are you incompetent to try trivial cases?

1 Corinthians 6:1-8

Before we look at the Scripture listed above we must first apply 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, to our thoughts.  It is very clear that one who has entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ has no right to choose what they will do with their life on planet earth.  It clearly states the following: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

With that as our focus, why not choose to be wronged, for in this life you are going to be misunderstood.  If money is involved the enemy is going to work with all diligence to put wrong desires in the hearts of the people involved, and at the very best the enemy will tell you the partner is a poor manager and cannot be trusted.

So let’s be clear, you are going to have a grievance against another brother or sister in the faith, it may be over something very petty but often pride and greed play into it and everyone tells you to go to court in order to protect your rights.  The following Scripture is what God’s Spirit instructs you and I to do. 

“When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!”

The reason you will not do this comes down to you are not willing to trust and do what the elders of your body of believers instruct you to do, and you do not see bringing a dispute before non-believers, this brings shame on the name of Christ.  The bottom line is you have been wronged it’s your stuff, and you are not willing to bring it before the one who bought you in full and paid a price you could never have paid.

But a wise person will seek to first go to the brother/sister and make right the grievance, and if there is not agreement go to your elders and lay your case before them with the intent of following their decision.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice