Dare Any of You

Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 1 Corinthians 6:1 (KJV)

One of the most disturbing things that I see happening within the Body of Christ is believers suing other believers. The justification is always the same, “If they were ‘real believers’ then I wouldn’t sue them, but . . .” There always follows a list of wrongs done and more justification of why their particular law suit is acceptable. What happened to Jesus admonition to yield to the one who despitefully uses you?

And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matthew 4:40-44 (KJV)

I was in business for years before I was saved and for several years after I received Christ. Many were the occasions that warranted a law suit to recover the costs of labor and materials not paid for. Once a Christian, I could not, in good conscience, sue a “brother.” Who was I to determine who was a “real brother” or not? If they said they were saved, I figured that they must be saved whether they acted like it or not.

But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 1 Corinthians 6:6-7 (KJV)

What I learned was that when someone takes from you by fraud or thievery, the Lord will make the devil pay it back. If you are slandered the Lord will vindicate you. Whatever the case, God has promised to make right the wrongs done. Forgiveness is the key that releases the provision of God.