In Sunday’s message entitled “See You in Court” (listen/download here), we considered Paul’s astonishment that believers in the church in Corinth would sue one another for material gain. His countercultural solution was emphatic, “Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?”
The idea that Christians would assert their rights and pass judgment on each other is foreign to the message of Christ, who declared: “Do not resist the one who is evil… if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.”
As Americans, we live in a culture obsessed with demanding our rights. Like the Greeks, we’ve made a sport of watching others argue their rights before the likes of Judge Judy or Jerry Springer. And, like the Corinthian church, we tend to become like our culture.
Paul instructed the Philippians, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Consider these three questions about Gospel-centered living with an aim to begin to apply these truths to your life this week:
1. What rights am I holding on to?
2. What offenses do I need to forgive?
3. What can I gladly yield for the sake of the Gospel?
May God richly bless you in pursuing Gospel-centered lives for His glory!
That was a very convicting message. It was also very helpful in my questions on when Christians should sue. Thanks, Mr. Emerson. You did a great job on this one.
Thanks for a really helpful sermon! I was in KingsKids that Sunday and just listened to it this past week …when I really needed to hear it and apply the principle to a particular situation. God is so faithful to encourage His church!