“When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers! Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves?” (1 Corinthians 6:1-2)

Paul was concerned over the things he heard about the Corinthian believers, yet he lovingly reveals the supreme mind of the Father. He summed these matters as “little things.” He wasn’t disregarding them. We belong to a higher and better standard in Christ. He was placing us on a higher platform before the world because “even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you” (1 Corinthians 6:7).

Disputes do come. In fact, a dispute was recorded in the first vibrant church, when there “were rumblings of discontent” (Acts 6). The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers that “their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.” The matter was taken to the wise leaders and with the supply of God’s Spirit, the problem was perfectly solved. After the settlement, the word says: “So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too” (Acts 6:7).

Beautiful testimony! “Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues?” Paul asked. We can look for the wise among us for such matters: Truly “if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). Father, give us Your wisdom on disputes before us in Jesus’ name. Amen.

BeEncouraged❤️ Freely Received. Freely Share