JULY 10, 1 Corinthians 6:7

Many of the Christians in Corinth were arguing. They said nasty things about each other. They even went to the judges of the city and asked them to punish the Christians with whom they quarreled. Christians should not sue each other in the courts. Christians are brethren, belonging to the family of God.

We may quarrel and argue, but it is better to suffer small injuries and inconveniences for we know we are to sometimes suffer for Christ.

Imagine a situation where two brothers were having breakfast and saw a cereal packet with a very cute ‘Kung Fu Panda’ figurine. Abel and Ben started arguing. Abel had it in his hand. Ben said, “Give it to me. You had the last one.”

“I saw it first and I am keeping it. No way, I am giving it to you,” said Abel, holding the figurine away from Ben so that he could not reach it.

Looking visibly sad, Ben shouted, “You are so, so, very selfish!”

“I saw it first. You are just too slow!” shouted Abel, even louder.

Daddy stepped into the kitchen to see what this hullabaloo was all about. He sat down to talk to them. Just like the Apostle Paul who told the Christians in Corinth to quit fighting, Daddy advised his sons to stop arguing.

When you fight or argue, you won’t win any fight. Instead you lose. What do you lose? You lose the testimony for God. When we lose our temper, we may also lose friends.

Abel handed the figurine to his brother. What did he lose? He lost his selfishness but made his brother happy. He suffered only a small ‘loss’ by not being quarrelsome.

Thought: What do you argue with your friends and siblings about? Consider giving those things up for the peace and joy of obedience to God’s commands.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please forgive all the arguments and mean words that have come out of my selfish heart. Help me to bear wrongdoing rather than to do wrong to others. Help me to give in to others and not be selfish. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.