I Corinthians 6: 1-8
In this chapter Paul now turns to three more issues they need to resolve.
The first is about lawsuits.
Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints?
They are suing each other in the secular courts.
Or do you not know that the saints will judge the World? If the World is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest courts?
God has appointed His children to be the judges of the unrighteous of the World. So we should be competent to decide between Christians.
Do you not know that we will judge Angels? How much more matters of this life?
We will also be the judges over the Angels who sinned, a much more serious and spiritual matter. If we will have this authority, how much more capable we should be to decide matters of this World.
So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of least esteemed in the church?
If there are church members who aren't doing anything else, are they the ones you say to take this responsibility?
I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren?
If you do that, then your are admitting that no one in your congregation has enough godly wisdom to decide these matters. This is shameful, because you're not accepting what God has already given you.
But brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
Instead they are suing one another in the secular courts.
Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another.
Even that they want to sue one another is not right.
Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?
Love covers over all kinds of wrongs, and forgives and lets it slide.
On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brethren.
It's not right to hold a grudge or demand retribution, but especially when we are attacking our own brothers and sisters.
We are to love one another, not only as we love ourselves, but as God Loves us. He Loves us with unconditional Love, that overcomes every obstacle. We will see later in this letter all the characteristics of the love we are to have for one another.
O my Father, You are so amazing, that You know us completely, yet You still Love us so enormously! Please help us to forego any grudges we may be tempted to bear, especially against our own family members, whether physical or spiritual.
Teach us how to love one another as You have Loved us, Father. Show us how to love with Your Love, instead of just our own human love. Even a mother's love is not as pure or great as Your Love for us.
And You have already given each one of us everything we need to do everything You have set before us to do to accomplish our part of Your great Plan of the Ages. Open our eyes and our understanding to all that You have empowered us to do.
And every eye will see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ and our Lord God Almighty, our Sovereign King of the Universe; to the glory of Almighty God the Father.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
