May 7th

The Losses of Lawsuits

Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? ...I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 1 Corinthians 6:1,5

Caution: Your witness is at risk. If you are not careful, then every time you try to talk about God you will actually turn people away from Him because of the way you live.

We need to set up guardrails on our lives to keep from entering those danger areas where we lose our witness, where our lives for Christ are tarnished because we are really living life for ourselves.

One area we need to especially guard is in the area of lawsuits. This is truly countercultural, because our nation is so suit-happy that justice is often turned upside-down as people chase after perceived slights and wrongs, really just embarrassing themselves and our whole nation.

Lawsuits are especially terrible when one believer sues another believer. The Church is a family and it dishonors the family when two siblings can't get along, bringing their spat publicly before an unbelieving judge to decide between them.

It makes me think of Jerry Springer, where families regularly air their dirty laundry and little spats and fickle arguments before a national audience. Never do these families resolve anything by doing this. Instead, these families are embarrassing themselves! They are bringing shame upon shame to their family name!

This is what it is like if we bring lawsuits against one another! What witness do we have left if we do this to one another? None!

Instead, we must choose to be thankful and to pursue peace with one another. If we will maintain thankfulness, then we will not cross over into the bitter selfishness that leads to lawsuits.

Let us be thankful and at peace with one another at all costs. And if for some reason we must argue our case, then let us turn to the wise believers among us to determine justice. This is a family matter. Let it stay within the family and not ruin the witness of the Church of God.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

Please forgive us for ruining Your name by suing one another and bickering with our brothers and sisters before the eyes of the world! Restore real justice and righteousness to Your Church, and start with me as I choose to prefer being wronged, lest I lose my witness for You.

Amen