1 Corinthians 6:7-8

Scripture: 1 Cor. 6:7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?

1 Cor. 6:8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud – even your own brothers!

Teaching: Paul is admonishing the Corinthians for taking each other – in the Church – to court to settle disputes, allowing non-believers (or those who do not share their faith in Christ nor outlook on what matters in life) to judge their earthly matters. In verse 7, Paul chides them with the questions, “Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?” By this he means, “Was Christ not wronged defrauded on your behalf? Why shouldn’t you accept this sort of treatment, as well?” Again, Paul is drawing the Corinthians attention to being more Christ-like, turning from sin and embracing the life Christ gives – in this case, both the good things and the bad. As mentioned last week, there is eternal gain in suffering for Christ in this life.

Yet, as we see in verse 8, the Corinthians were willing to wrong and defraud both non-believers and their brothers in Christ for their own personal benefit. This is shameful behavior to Paul, and again speaks to their penchant for living in the flesh, seeing their world through earthly eyes, and desiring wealth and comfort in this life over reward in eternity.

Takeaway: Perhaps the most powerful way to witness for Christ is in suffering without taking recourse. Christ exemplified this in how he faced his own sham “trial” before the Pharisees and Pontius Pilate, enduring the whippings and beatings, carrying his cross to Golgotha, and dying upon it without a word in his own defense. He taught his followers to do the same. Peter makes this case in 1 Peter 2:19-23, saying “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” Peter continued a few verses later in 1 Peter 3:8-9, “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” When faced with adversity – even the most unfair and satanic attacks – we must ask ourselves still, “How can I witness for Christ in this so that He gets the glory?” The question the Corinthians were apparently asking themselves was rather, “How can I get what I feel I am entitled to?” I think we often ask ourselves in these situations simply, "How can I get myself out of this jam?" Choosing the latter two relies on our own guile or strength. Choosing the first requires a firm faith in the blessings and rewards to come in eternity. We are not meant to escape every hardship in this life; rather, we are called to witness to the God who has saved us and in whom we have placed our trust, and whom, as Peter says, "judges justly." The spiritual strength and conviction to think and act in such a way will always be given by God when we pray for it, as it is His will that we would witness for Him in faith rather than our own strength.