1 Corinthians 6:1-8 Resolve Your Issues in Love
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: February 11, 2020 1 Corinthians 6:1-8
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!
(Understanding the Text) Now, Paul addresses another problem of the church in Corinth. Someone, or maybe several someones, were taking each other to court over legal issues. Paul says that these kind of issues should be handled in-house in the church rather than in a secular court. He tells the people that if they have to go to court because a fellow believer has cheated them, they have already lost. Being cheated by a brother or sister means that you have lost that brother/sister. They are no longer family in your eyes. If you can, work things out with them.
Paul says that it is better to take the loss than to take a fellow believer to court. He actually gives several reasons for this. First of all, he calls it trivial. They are living for the kingdom of heaven which is the important and real goal. Thus, the things of this world are of minor importance compared to that. Second, there is the previously mentioned issue that brothers in Christ should be treating each other in love. If a person is defrauding his brother, it is not love. If a person is more concerned about getting his money back than the spiritual health of the one who defrauded him, it is not love. If a person is not reacting to circumstances as Jesus advised, the lack of love is directed against the Savior Himself. Thirdly, the court case is taken before unbelievers and so hurts the reputation of Christians, and as a consequence, of Jesus Himself.
The Corinthians were known for two things. Their sexual debauchery and their money-making. Paul is saying that if a believer has not yet learned to give his greed to Jesus and to operate by the kingdom of heaven’s law of love, then fellow believers who are affected by this should work together to show the brother his error and how God wants him to act. When we give up on a person and just take him to court, we may get our money back, but we have lost our chance to help our brother.
(Revelation of God) God cares more about the loss of a child than the loss of material things. As our Father, He cares for us personally. He can create a piece of gold and give us more land, but He cannot create another unique individual who is me and who chooses to be His child. He can transform me into being a better me, and He can transform the person who steals from me if we let Him. Thus, His top priority and my top priority should be about how to reach the brother/sister who is in conflict with me and to draw him/her back to Jesus. Stuff can be replaced, but my brother or sister cannot. If he or she leaves, there is an emptiness in God’s heart.
Paul condemns the Corinthians for their dishonesty. He is also condemning them for their lack of brotherly love. They are acting as if they are still part of the world rather than living by kingdom rules. Paul says that it doesn’t matter if a Corinthian believer is legally in the right. What matters is their relationship with each other and treating each other with integrity.
(Application / Prayer) Paul makes a point that we will be judging supernatural beings, so we should be able to deal with each other without needing outside help. In order to judge angels and deal with humans, I need Your wisdom in my life. I pray to operate with love and integrity towards all people in both my actions and my attitudes.