If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!
7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
-1 Corinthians 6:1-11
The Corinthians struggled with many different social issues, and in this case, dealing with conflicts between each other and how to settle them. It appears that they turned to worldly ways of settling conflicts and lawsuits, going to judges and courts that were not necessarily related to God's ways.
Today, we see people constantly turning to secular ways when dealing with conflict. Whether it is taking legal action, going behind people's back, or even physical harm, we humans naturally look for ways to get what we want or to seek what we think to be justice. Furthermore, when in conflict, we often try to find ways to free ourselves from fault or blame, trying to push it onto someone else or to settle the matter by creating a "lawsuit".
Paul sees the Corinthians struggles with this matter, and asks in verse 7 "Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?" They had resorted to cheating and doing wrong to try to seek their version of justice, even to their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ! But Paul reminds us of the bigger picture and the dangers of falling into sin, but also reminds us and the Corinthians that this lifestyle should be something of the past as Jesus has already provided justice and freed us from sin.
It's so easy to turn to our own ways to deal with conflicts that it can prevent us from remembering our identity in Christ. The world has many "solutions" to our issues that may seem great, but God reminds us that His ways are always best. We can look to Jesus's characteristics and practice humility and love to settle issues, rather than only doing more harm to others and to ourselves. This will not only help us get through our conflicts, but will also help unbelievers and those around us see Christ alive and working in us through the way we respond.
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