1 Corinthians Day 31 - When Winning is Losing

6:7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?

In the midst of Paul addressing the issue of those in the church at Corinth suing each other he made this statement followed by two questions. Today we are going to explore this in more detail.

I had to look up the Greek for 'utter failure' just to see what it said. The translators nailed it perfectly. The original is two words, the first meaning altogether, wholly, complete and the second meaning defeat. Ironic isn't it? They are going to court to see who will win and Paul tells them they are completely defeated just by the fact it ever got that far. 

Have you ever listened to an argument from a neutral position and realized in spite of all the noise and heat both are in the wrong just for allowing the "discussion" to get that far? Ever been in one of those arguments? 

What causes them? What drives two people who are supposed to be on the same "team" (the body of Christ) to end up in court against each other? Pride and selfishness. "But I can't let them walk all over me!" Paul heard that argument before you ever spoke it and asked "Wouldn't it be better just to take the loss and be cheated?" Notice Paul's argument is not a justice argument. He is not saying to go home because you have no legitimate case. He is not saying you were not wronged. He is saying don't make the situation worse.

Think about it. We are followers of Christ. We are followers of the One who never defended Himself. We are followers of the One never spent a day or an hour plotting how He could "get back at" or even hoe He could "get ahead". Every day He spent Himself for others. Every day He looked for ways to help others look Higher. Every day He tried by any means possible to make His Father known. 

Is it always possible to avoid court? No. Jesus found Himself on trial in the courts of Pilate and Herod. He did not hire a lawyer. He did not even defend Himself. He had the resources to escape the entire situation in dramatic fashion. He could have called ten thousand angels when only one would have been enough. He did not. "As a lamb before it's shearers is silent so He opened not His mouth." Why? His own disciples tried to fight for Him in Gethsemane but He made them put their swords away. Why? Because saving Himself is not why He came.

We are followers of Jesus. Winning is not what we are about. Self-defense is not what we are about. We can and must fight for justice for others but never for ourselves. Better to be wronged than to win a court case. Love awakens love. Fighting for self awakens selfishness in them and in us. 

Just heading down the road of self anything is utter failure no matter how the struggle ends. Be careful the battles you wage. Often winning is losing. Remember always Who your Master is and follow Him.