Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 6:5–6
God had Paul continue by asking two more questions in 1 Corinthians 6:5–6, “Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, 6 but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?” God used Paul to get the believers in Corinth to examine why they had been taking each other to civil court. God knew who the believers were in the church at Corinth, and so He had Paul ask them, “Do you mean to tell me that you can’t find anyone within the body of believers there in Corinth who is filled with God’s wisdom and can decide these issues among you?” The believers in Corinth had not even thought of this; therefore, what they had been doing was suing one another and allowing unbelievers to be their judges to settle their civil disputes. As we read this, God is challenging us to examine who we seek counsel from when there is any kind of dispute between two Christians. We should always go to the godly leaders within the church first. God tells us in Proverbs 1:5, “A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.” When we are passionately pursuing our walk with our Lord and treasuring His Word within us, then we will be able and willing to hear and increase our learning from Him. We will also have God’s understanding to seek wise counsel from godly leaders who will lead us to God’s truth for the answers we need.
Challenge & Application
When there is a civil dispute between two believers, where should we seek counsel from first and why?
What helps us to hear and increase our learning from God?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!