Let’s read 1 Corinthians 6:1-6, “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 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? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 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? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.” 

All Christians are brothers and sisters in the Lord.  We are all part of the body of Christ, the church.  We are one in Christ.  It is a shame when believers cannot settle their differences and must resort to taking one another to court so that they can settle our differences for us.  We look to unbelievers to do what we cannot do ourselves, and in this, we dishonor the Lord.

In this case in Corinthians, instead of settling their disputes among themselves, as becomes the saints of God, they brought their difficulties before a heathen court. In doing this they had lost sight of the dignity of their calling. Going to a heathen court to have these matters settled by one who was not a child of God, but unsaved, was unworthy of them.  They were making known their own shame before the world. If they had kept in mind that coming day of glory, when as saints they were to participate in the judgment of the world, they would not have acted in such a way. They would have gladly suffered wrong themselves and permitted themselves to be defrauded instead of rushing with their grievances before a heathen court.

Matthew 18:15-17 shows the true way for believers to settle such matters.  That says, “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”  This is how the Lord would have us solve our differences and problems.  We should keep in mind that God is our Father and with His guidance, we can overcome any difficulties between us.

Let’s look more carefully at 1 Corinthians 6:4, “If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.”  Even those who are ‘least esteemed’ among the church are able to judge the situations between two believers.  What is required for one to be able to decide difficulties between two Christians?  I would say two things: common sense and honesty!  What more is needed?  The person mentioned is “in the church”, which in biblical language means he is a believer.  A believer with minimal experience can still be led of the Lord to help two fellow believers solve their difficulties. 

We then read in 1 Corinthians 6:7, “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?”  When in a dispute with a fellow believer, the most important thing to consider is the glory of the Lord.  If there cannot be a clear ‘right and wrong’ between you and another Christian, you should suffer loss rather than take him to court.  It shames the Lord for the world to see two Christians suing each other over something that should be settled among themselves. 

These Corinthians were doing wrong. In all this they dishonored God and denied their relationship to Him.  These Corinthian failures are fully developed today in professing Christendom.  To sue one another is almost commonplace.  What a shame!  If we suffer loss for the Lord’s sake and do not try to avenge ourselves or ‘get even’ with the one who has offended us, we please the Lord.  He will render justice in His own way and time.  Proverbs 20:22 says, “Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.”  (441.4)