Monday, May 13, 2013 - 2:05 pm

I read 1 Corinthians 5-6 today, and I noticed something in chapter 6, verse 7 that flies in the face of culture. "...Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?" I'm sure the world around us would be quick to come up with answers that really seem to make sense: "Because it's not fair to me!" or "Because no one else will look out for my interests." or "Because if I let them walk all over me, they'll never learn." Isn't it strange that when it comes to getting what we want, we don't seem to see those same objections come up so quickly on the behalf of others? We can be fooled into thinking that others only exist so they can help us get what we need. You know what? They may have bought the same lie about us. So why does Paul assume that Christians should rather be wronged or cheated? It seems like he doesn't clarify that, almost as if he doesn't need to, because it should be obvious. So let's take a look at the objections we raised from a godly standpoint.
"It's not fair to me!" Just how fair do we think life should be to us? Was it fair that Jesus was mocked, beaten and crucified for our sin? Is it fair that we receive a righteousness which we could never attain to or deserve, and have hope for a far brighter present and future than we could ever merit? Considering that, can anything negatively unfair in our lives even begin to tip the scale in the direction of fairness? I didn't think so. What we really mean is "I don't like to suffer!" 1 Peter 3:14 says, "But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed..." In John 16:33, Jesus says, "...In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
That leads to the next objection: "No one else will look out for my interests." Matthew 10:29-31 says, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. / And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. / So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." That certainly sounds like God is watching out very closely for our interests.
Then the final objection, "Unless I confront them, they'll never learn." Proverbs 25:21-22 says, "If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. / In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you." Luke 6:27-38 is all well worth reading on this subject, especially verses 35-36, "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. / Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
So why not rather be wronged or cheated? It gives us every opportunity to be blessed by God, to build His character in us, and to trust in His provision. Most of all, I want to be a son of the Most High.