DCLM Daily Manna Tuesday 19 Nov 2024 

TOPIC:  Don’t Sacrifice Fellowship In Court

TEXT: 1 Corinthians 6:1-7
6 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

² Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

³ Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

⁴ If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

⁵ I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

⁶ But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.

⁷ 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?

KEY VERSE
“Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?”
1 Corinthians 6:1

DCLM Daily Manna Tuesday 19 Nov 2024 Message

Dr Miner of Trenton, New Jersey, a former pastor at Springfield, relates that when Abraham Lincoln was practicing law, a farmer went to ask for his service in a case between him and his neighbour. Lincoln said, “Now if you go on with this, it will cost both of you your farms and entail an enmity that will last for generations and perhaps lead to murder.” He made the two men sit in his office and locked them in while he went to dinner. The two men, finding themselves imprisoned, burst into laughter and settled before Mr. Lincoln returned. Settling disputes out of court is far cheaper than the cost of a lawsuit.

Apostle Paul frowned at believers in the Corinthian Church who refused to resolve their disputes amicably among themselves, but preferred filing lawsuits against one another in the civil court. Rather than take one another to court, such matters should be tabled before leaders in the church for settlement. Litigation contradicts the Christian spirit of love, forgiveness and forbearance.

READ DCLM Daily Manna Monday 18 November 2024 – Triumph By God’s Spirit

We must understand that we will offend others sometimes. But we must learn to forgive and forget. When believers drag other brethren before the worldly courts, it demeans Christianity and makes a mockery of our teachings of peace, forbearance, love and unity.

If we are true followers of Christ, we will obey the command of the Lord to love and forgive one another. We will also follow the principle He has laid down for resolving differences. There is no joy in winning a lawsuit against another brother or sister and losing the love and joy in fellowship.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Litigation degrades the Christian spirit of fellowship.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Kings 16-17