"Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
1 Corinthians 6:7-11
This is interesting. I think that it is really hard for us to accept injustice sometimes... at least when it is the injustice of others. We really want justice, and we're quick to judge others. Paul and God make an excellent point here though. What's the better choice? To judge, and be judged in return, since we do many of the same things, or to leave the judgement to God and accept wrongs and being cheated/defrauded when it happens? Clearly, it is to accept wrong.
Now, I am not saying this is easy. In fact, I am probably one of the worst offenders in this area. When I have been wronged and cheated by people, it has made me really, really angry, and it is hard to let go of that. Hopefully I am getting better, but it's difficult. Even if we can financially absorb a loss, it's hard to know that someone has taken our money and given us nothing in return as agreed. Even harder when that loss affects important things in our lives. Or when someone lies about us, or to us, or damages our property, or zillions of other things, whether or not they affect our finances, our reputations, our employment, or whatever.
Sitting down and thinking about it myself, though, even though I can tell you some horror stories where I was on the losing end, I think that I could also tell you, unfortunately, and intentional or not, some horror stories where someone else was on the losing end specifically because of me. I have no idea whether you guys have similar stories and realizations, but I can see clearly the wisdom in the advice to accept wrong and move on. Maybe we should all think about focusing on repentance and not being in the big list of bad things. If we all judge each other instead of letting it go, then all of us are going to end up in sad shape. God will be a much better judge than we will be, since he knows all of our individual stories, and God gives us all a chance to repent and change, so we don't have to be that person all of our lives... we can move on, and change, and be better.
In essence, accepting wrong means giving people another chance, and if we all do that, it means WE get another chance too. So, today, as hard as I know it is, let's really work on letting things go. On accepting loss and wrong, and moving on. Let's give other people the same room that we need in our lives in order to change and improve. Let's leave justice in the hands of God, where it belongs.
Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
1 Corinthians 6:7-11
This is interesting. I think that it is really hard for us to accept injustice sometimes... at least when it is the injustice of others. We really want justice, and we're quick to judge others. Paul and God make an excellent point here though. What's the better choice? To judge, and be judged in return, since we do many of the same things, or to leave the judgement to God and accept wrongs and being cheated/defrauded when it happens? Clearly, it is to accept wrong.
Now, I am not saying this is easy. In fact, I am probably one of the worst offenders in this area. When I have been wronged and cheated by people, it has made me really, really angry, and it is hard to let go of that. Hopefully I am getting better, but it's difficult. Even if we can financially absorb a loss, it's hard to know that someone has taken our money and given us nothing in return as agreed. Even harder when that loss affects important things in our lives. Or when someone lies about us, or to us, or damages our property, or zillions of other things, whether or not they affect our finances, our reputations, our employment, or whatever.
Sitting down and thinking about it myself, though, even though I can tell you some horror stories where I was on the losing end, I think that I could also tell you, unfortunately, and intentional or not, some horror stories where someone else was on the losing end specifically because of me. I have no idea whether you guys have similar stories and realizations, but I can see clearly the wisdom in the advice to accept wrong and move on. Maybe we should all think about focusing on repentance and not being in the big list of bad things. If we all judge each other instead of letting it go, then all of us are going to end up in sad shape. God will be a much better judge than we will be, since he knows all of our individual stories, and God gives us all a chance to repent and change, so we don't have to be that person all of our lives... we can move on, and change, and be better.
In essence, accepting wrong means giving people another chance, and if we all do that, it means WE get another chance too. So, today, as hard as I know it is, let's really work on letting things go. On accepting loss and wrong, and moving on. Let's give other people the same room that we need in our lives in order to change and improve. Let's leave justice in the hands of God, where it belongs.
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