Wise

We are making our way through a letter Paul wrote to Jesus followers in Corinth. Today, Paul gives us a negative of wisdom.


1 Corinthians 6
1 When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers! 2 Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? 3 Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. 4 If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? 5 I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues? 6 But instead, one believer sues another - right in front of unbelievers! 7 Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers. 9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people - none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.


Wise. The church in Corinth needed more wisdom. Wisdom to know how to resolve disputes. Wisdom to know that our decisions impact others. Wisdom to know we should avoid the bad habits of our past. Unfortunately, wisdom isn’t developed overnight. It is a combination of knowledge (knowing God’s word) and experience (putting God’s word into practice). In case you are visual learner like me, here is a snapshot of what wisdom looks like ... purity, faithfulness, generosity, self-control, gentleness and honesty. Basically, it is doing the opposite of “those who do wrong”.