Accept Mistreatment In Humility

1 Corinthians 6:6-8  - But, instead, one Christian sues another and accuses his Christian brother in front of unbelievers. To have such lawsuits at all is a real defeat for you as Christians. Why not just accept mistreatment and leave it at that? It would be far more honoring to the Lord to let yourselves be cheated. But, instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong, cheating others, even your own brothers.

 

Paul gives us a few pointers on handling things we disagree on within the Christian Community. He felt that taking our disagreements to a secular court to be settled defeated some of the character traits that Christians should build in front of non-believers. If we let greed and a perfect sense of justice overcome the need to be humble and accept mistreatment as a way to grow in Christ…we weaken our character… and send the wrong message to all non-believers that witness it.

 

Paul isn’t the only one who preached this concept. Jesus himself told the disciples to turn the other cheek in Matthew 5 and Luke 6.  His words gave them hard orders to never resist evil…but let others see them accept it and absorb it in humility.  He modeled it for us as He walked quietly through the hours before His death…not speaking out in His defense…never speaking the truth of His innocence. Jesus knew the humility He showed was strengthening Him for a greater purpose…the salvation of all who believed in His great sacrifice.

 

I admit that it is one of the hardest things God ask of believers. I struggle with it daily. Our selfish flesh cries out for justice as soon as we can have it.  We don’t want to wait on God’s timing…because the need for justice clouds our heart from the good humility would bring in that situation. Satan tricks us into thinking that justice will give us a feeling of closure and comfort. Satan uses our love of money and what it can do for us in this world to make our heart become greedy or revengeful.

 

Father….thank you for the reminder that I need to seek Christian counsel to help me solve my disagreements with others.  Forgive me for the times that I have let the world trick me into finding comfort and closure in arguing with others and demanding my own way. Help me to be more humble and accept injustice as a way to grow in understanding of the sacrificial love that you want me to have for others….especially those that need to believe in you. Amen.