Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 6:1–2
The believers in Corinth definitely struggled with some issues of the flesh. As we have seen so far, they had to be lovingly rebuked for arguing over their spiritual mentors and they had an issue with their pridefulness. Then, God led Paul to write to the believers about how they should handle civil disputes. We read in 1 Corinthians 6:1–2, “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? 2 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 law courts?” God used Paul to rebuke the believers in Corinth for mishandling disputes between each other. God had Paul ask them, “Why in the world are you filing lawsuits against each other and asking a secular court to decide how two believers should settle their differences, and why are you not seeking Godly counsel from other mature believers?” Then, God had Paul remind the believers that someday all believers will judge the world with Christ. The believers in Corinth should have known this. We should know this too, because God shared this through Daniel in Daniel 7:18, Daniel 7:22, and Daniel 7:27. That is why God had Paul end verse 2 by asking the believers, since they would one day judge the world, why couldn’t they decide on some grievances among themselves? We must live as reconcilers, rightly dealing with disputes in a godly manner.
Challenge & Application
How were the believers in Corinth handling their disputes, and why was this not a biblical way to handle them?
How should we handle disputes between believers? (See Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:12–13 for help.)
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!