<p>One of the surface lessons we learn from this passage is that Christians should not be prone to engage in lawsuits. It is a natural reaction to rush to court to seek redress for grievances and damages. But the believer is guided by higher principles than natural reactions. The will of God often cuts across the grain of nature.</p><p>Our law courts today are glutted with accident claims, malpractice suits, divorce cases and inheritance claims. In many cases, people rush to the lawyer in the hope of getting rich quick. But the Christian must settle things by the power of love and not by the processes of law. As someone has said, "If you go in for legal processes, then legal processes will get you, and you will pay the last penny."</p><p>The only one who is sure to win is the lawyer; his fee is assured. A cartoon pictured the process this way. A plaintiff was pulling the head of a cow, the defendant was pulling the tail - and the lawyer was milking the cow.</p><p>In <span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+6:1-20">1 Corinthians 6:1-20</span> Christians are positively forbidden to go to law against other Christians. For one thing they should take their disputes to some wise man in the church. But even beyond that they should be willing to be wronged and cheated rather than go to law before the judges of this world's system. This, incidentally, would rule out all cases of divorce involving believing partners.</p><p>But what about cases between a believer and an unbeliever? Doesn't the Christian have to stand up for his rights? The answer is that it is far better to forego his rights in order to demonstrate that Christ makes a difference in a person's life. It does not require divine life to institute a suit against someone who has wronged him. But it does take divine life to commit his cause to God and use the case as an opportunity to witness to the saving, transforming power of Christ. As much as possible, he should live at peace with all men (<span class="scriptRef" ref="ro+12:18">Romans 12:18</span>).</p><p>"A man started to build a fence between himself and his neighbor. The neighbor came and said; 'When you bought that lot you bought a court case along with it. That fence is going to be five feet in my land.' The man replied, 'I knew I would always have a nice neighbor next to me. I'll tell you what I suggest: You put up the fence where you think it should go, send me the bill and I'll pay for it.' The fence was never put up. No need!" (E. Stanley Jones).</p><p> </p>

With reverence, humor and skill, William MacDonald wove a daily devotional tapestry that challenges the reader to think deeply and Biblically, and apply God's Word to their lives.

Truths to Live By - One Day at a Time

"Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way; in order that your opponent may not deliver you to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison" (Matthew 5:25 NASB)

<p>Covetousness is the excessive desire for wealth or possessions. It is a mania that grips people, causing them to grasp for more and more. It is a fever that drives them to crave things they don't actually need.</p><p>We see covetousness in the business man who is never satisfied. He says he will stop when he has accumulated a certain amount, but when that time comes, he is greedy for more.</p><p>We see it in the housewife whose life is one unending shopping spree. She squirrels away tons of miscellany till her attic, garage and storage area bulge with the loot.</p><p>We see it in the tradition of Christmas gifts and birthday gifts. Young and old alike judge the success of the occasion by the amount of booty they are able to accumulate.</p><p>We see it in the disposition of an estate. When someone dies, his relatives and friends shed a ritual tear, then descend like vultures to divide the prey, often starting a civil war in the process.</p><p>Covetousness is idolatry (<span class="scriptRef" ref="eph+5:5">Ephesians 5:5</span>; <span class="scriptRef" ref="col+3:5">Colossians 3:5</span>). It puts self-will in the place of God's will. It expresses dissatisfaction with what God has given, and is determined to get more, no matter what the cost may be.</p><p>Covetousness is a lie, creating the impression that happiness is found in the possession of material things. The story is told of a man who could have anything he wanted by merely wishing for it. He wished for a mansion, servants, a Cadillac, a yacht and presto! they were there instantly. At first it was exhilarating, but then as he began to run out of new ideas, he became dissatisfied. Finally he said, "I want to get out of here. I want to create something, to suffer something. I'd rather be in hell than here." The attendant answered, "Where do you think you are?"</p><p>Covetousness tempts people to compromise, to cheat, to sin in order to get what they want.</p><p>It unfits a man for leadership in the church (<span class="scriptRef" ref="1ti+3:3">1 Timothy 3:3</span>). Ronald Sider asks, "Would it not be more biblical to apply church discipline to people whose greedy acquisitiveness has led to 'financial success' than to elect them to the board of elders?"</p><p>When greed leads to embezzlement, extortion or other public scandals, it calls for excommunication (<span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+5:11">1 Corinthians 5:11</span>).</p><p>And if covetousness is not confessed and forsaken, it leads to exclusion from the Kingdom of God (<span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+6:10">1 Corinthians 6:10</span>). </p><p> </p>

"Take heed, and beware of covetousness." (Lu. 12:15)

<p>Dr. P. J. Van Gorder used to tell about a sign over a woodworker's shop which said, "All kinds of twisting and turning done here." It is not only woodworkers that are good at that; many professing Christians twist and turn the Scriptures when it suits them. Some, as our verse says, even wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction.</p><p>We are all fairly expert at rationalizing, i.e., at excusing our sinful disobedience by giving creditable explanations or assigning worthy motives to our actions. We often try to bend the Scriptures to suit our behavior. We give plausible but untrue reasons for our conduct or attitudes. Here are some examples.</p><p>A Christian businessman knows that it is wrong for him to go to law against another believer (<span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+6:1-8">1 Corinthians 6:1-8</span>). Yet when he is challenged about it, he says, "Yes, but he was definitely wrong, and the Lord doesn't want him to get away with it."</p><p>Jane is planning to marry John, even when she knows he is not a believer. When a Christian friend reminds her that this is forbidden by <span class="scriptRef" ref="2co+6:14">2 Corinthians 6:14</span>, she says, "Yes, but the Lord told me to marry him so I can lead him to Christ."</p><p>Glen and Ruth profess to be Christians, yet they are living together without being married. When a friend of Glen pointed out that this was fornication and that no fornicator will inherit the kingdom of God (<span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+6:9-10">1 Corinthians 6:9-10</span>), Glen replied, "That's what you say. We are deeply in love with one another, and in God's sight we are married." Here is a Christian family living in luxury and splendor, in spite of Paul's admonition that we should live simply, being content with food and covering (<span class="scriptRef" ref="1ti+6:8">1 Timothy 6:8</span>). They justify their lifestyle with the pat answer, "There's nothing too good for the people of God."</p><p>Or here is a covetous businessman, greedily amassing all the wealth he can. His philosophy is, "There's nothing the matter with money. It's the love of money that's the root of all evil." It never occurs to him that he might be guilty of loving money.</p><p>Men try to put a better interpretation on their sins than the Scriptures allow. And when they are determined to disobey the Word, one excuse is as good (or bad) as another. </p><p> </p>

"…they that are unlearned and unstable wrest…the Scriptures, unto their own destruction." (2 Peter 3:16 b)

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+6:1-11">1 Corinthians 6:1-11</span></span></p><p>Yesterday we touched on the point that the universe will not respond to the aggressive, who approach it in a demanding spirit. It is the meek - those who are yielded, submissive and compliant - who inherit the earth. Thomas Huxley is quoted as saying something which we commented on earlier: "Science says to sit down before the facts like a little child, be prepared to give up every preconceived notion, be willing to be led to whatever end nature will lead you, or you will know nothing." Today we must focus our thinking on the fact that the quality of meekness (sometimes translated as humility or gentleness) described in the Beatitudes is not the result of natural temperament, but comes from knowing Christ and abiding in Him. That goes, of course, for all the qualities enunciated in the Beatitudes - they are spiritual characteristics, not natural ones. This point needs elaborating, for there are many Christians who say: "I am aggressive by nature, so it is not possible for me to be a meek and mild person." Every Christian, whatever their natural temperament, is meant to be meek. It is not a matter of natural disposition; it is a quality produced by the Spirit of God. Think of the powerful and extraordinary nature of a man like David - and yet observe his meekness. Look at a man like Paul the apostle, a master mind, a powerful and outstanding personality, yet consider his great humility and gentleness. How did these men get to be like this? Not because of a natural proneness toward meekness, but because they were indwelt by Christ and the Holy Spirit. It is not a matter of genes; it is a matter of grace. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">My Father and my God, help me to face up to the fact that whatever I am by nature, I can be changed by the power of Your grace. Show me how to absorb that grace so that I become more and more like You. For Your own dear Name's sake. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="nu+12:1-13">Numbers 12:1-13</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+22:26">Psalm 22:26</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+147:6">Psalm 147:6</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="lu+6:29">Luke 6:29</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What was Moses' great characteristic?</li><li>How does meekness reveal itself in practice?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified '" (v. 11)

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+6:1-11">1 Corinthians 6:1-11</span></span></p><p>In his book Conversion - Christian and Non-Christian, C. Underwood says that the future of religion lies with the religions of the East, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, where conversions seem to occur. He hears followers discussing such things as self-sacrifice and the practice of good works and labels that as spiritual conversion. When people of any religion begin to become more interested in others than in themselves, then that has to be applauded and recognized as beneficial. But that does not equate with the conversion Jesus talked about. An acquaintance of mine in India, the principal of a high school, told me of a Christian student who was given to immorality. The student was introduced to a pastor who took him aside, and after a month of deep spiritual counseling he was transformed. Several months later a Hindu student was similarly discovered to be practicing immorality. The principal of the school, hearing of this, said to one of his senior staff, a Hindu: "Tell me of a saintly Hindu that I can talk to, or an institution where there is hope of this young man being reformed." The staff member shook his head and replied: "We don't have such a thing. Hinduism can do nothing for this case. Can't you take him to one of your Christian pastors and get him to pray with him or read the Bible to him?" Here was bankruptcy confessed. I do not tell this story to put the Hindu religion in a bad light. I tell it simply to establish the fact that when other helpers fail and comforts flee, there is always Jesus. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Lord Jesus, I am so thankful that You and You alone are the true Savior. All other Saviors are pseudo-Saviors. Not only do You save me from sin but You save me also from sinning. I am deeply, deeply grateful. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ro+3:20">Romans 3:20</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ga+2:16">Galatians 2:16</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="eph+2:8-9">Ephesians 2:8-9</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>Why does observing the law fail?</li><li>What did Paul underline to the Ephesians?</li></ul></div></div>

"... you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ ..." (v. 11)

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="ga+5:1-15">Galatians 5:1-15</span></span></p><p>Permit me to pause in our meditations on the chief differences between the Christian faith and non-Christian religions to turn our eyes inward to the state of affairs within the church. We have not been as careful as we might in relation to this matter of vertical conversion. Oftentimes we have been more interested in statistics than in actual true conversions. The church, generally speaking, has a lot to answer for in this respect. The horizontal has outrun the vertical in some sections of institutional Christianity. This is why in a number of countries church leaders will not baptize converts until they have received some clear teaching on what the Christian life is all about. In Paul's day, as we see from our text, the main question being asked was about circumcision - whether or not that was essential. Paul threw the emphasis on being a new creature. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts, he said, is faith expressing itself through love. Conversion will involve a miraculous change; when it doesn't then it is not true conversion. What sort of change? There will be the slaying of the beast within, the gathering of the discordant forces of the soul into harmony, the cleansing of a stained conscience, entry into a more abundant life, and a deep inner sense of fellowship with Christ. Conversion doesn't have to be cataclysmic to be real either. The underlying facts are a new life, a new relationship. But it is as much a miracle as the calling forth of Lazarus from the dead. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">O God, save us in the church from the peril of horizontal conversions-people changing in relation to one another but not in Your direction. We want the real and only the real. Send us Your Spirit in even greater measure. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+6:1-11">1 Corinthians 6:1-11</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ac+13:39">Acts 13:39</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ro+5:1">Romans 5:1</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ga+3:24">Galatians 3:24</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What word is used to describe the process of conversion?</li><li>What does it mean?</li></ul></div></div>

"... in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value." (v. 6) 

<p> <sup class="verse-number">10</sup> Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.</p>

Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:10

 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

In 1604, King James I of England authorized that a new translation of the Bible into English be started. It was finished in 1611, just 85 years after the first translation of the New Testament into English appeared (Tyndale, 1526). The Authorized Version, or King James Version, quickly became the standard for English-speaking Protestants. Its flowing language and prose rhythm has had a profound influence on the literature of the past 400 years. The King James Version present on the Bible Gateway matches the 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States.

OT: Masoretic Text, some LXX and Vulgate influence.
NT: Textus Receptus, similar to the Byzantine text-type; some readings derived from the Vulgate.
Apocrypha: Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate.

1 Corinthians 6:10 KJV

1 Corinthians 6:10 KJV

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