What's the Matter?

1Cor. 6:1

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his is a question Paul could have asked  when he visited the church in Corinth.  He said, “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?”  Spiritual discernment is found in knowing what matters and what doesn’t matter.  The unsaved individual has everything mixed up.  The things that don’t matter, he thinks are important, while the things that really matter he thinks are not.  We have all seen people caught making sand castles with such intensity and care, while their real lives are crumbling and falling apart.  We have all seen people passionately yell and cheer for their favorite football team while sitting in a freezing cold stadium, but stay away from church because the weather is bad.  We have all seen people cry over a silly soap opera on TV while remaining dry eyed when a man dies and goes out into eternity without Christ. 

 In Corinth they were embroiled in conflicts with one another about the “smallest matters.”  Paul pointed this out and said “I speak to your shame.”  It is always a shame when we get what matters mixed up.  Knowing what matters and what does not matter is discernment.  First, you matter to God.  People matter to God.  Things, no matter how valuable in this world are of the “smallest matters.”  Many religious arguments are really fights over the “smallest matters.” They are about things.  There is a big difference between being religious and being spiritual.  Only a spiritual man knows what is worth fighting for.

  Two children were fighting.  Their mother came into their room to find out “what was the matter.”  Most of this world’s arguments are about things that don’t really matter.