Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: COURT (02/24/22)
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TITLE: Choose the Righteous Judge | Previous Challenge Entry
By Donna Martelli
03/02/22 -
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When we moved the store to a more favorable location, we had to pay the first and last month's rent plus an extra month upfront because we would not personally guarantee the lease. That would have been co-signing: something the Bible warns us not to do. There are several verses about this, but Proverbs 11:15 NLT explains it well:
"There's danger in putting up security for a stranger's debt; (the store, a legal entity)
it's safer not to guarantee another person's debt."
If we moved, sold, or closed the store, the landlord would return the extra month's rent to us.
After 12 successful years, Jesus called me to a different ministry. Consequently, we sold the store in good faith to Ralph and Ann, two people we knew and loved. We left the store to them with all invoices paid and extra money in the bank. That extra month's rent was still due to us, not them. Suffice to say, they overspent and went into debt. When they were ready to close the store, I reminded them of the money due to us. The landlord had paid it to them when they announced their plans to close. Do you know what Ann said?
"We spent it."
No apology. No explanation, just "we spent it."
My heart sank. It was $3000. It stung, not only for the loss of money but because of Ralph and Ann's failure to love and nurture the store.
I thought of small claims court, but no, we could not take another believer before a worldly court. Look at this:
"But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers! 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? Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers." (1 Corinthians 6:6-8 NLT)
Ouch! We had to allow ourselves to be cheated. The hurt was temporary because God always supplies everything we need. He is the one who restored all we lost and then some.
Know that believers cannot go to a worldly court before unbelievers, but instead, we enter into the courts of the Lord as we plead our case before Him. He is the righteous Judge of all!
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