What you have seen with your eyes do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame? – Proverbs 25:7b-8

Today’s Scripture Reading (October 14, 2019): Proverbs 25                          

“I certainly like the rumour that I was the father of Elizabeth Hurley's baby. It made me think I could impregnate women in a different way to everyone else. Elizabeth and I were never alone in a room together, so I must be a very powerful man indeed. Actually, I'm thinking of suing the baby!” The words belong to Actor Matthew Perry about the upcoming birth, one can only assume, of Damian Hurley in 2002. At the time, Damian’s father, Steve Bing, was denying that he was the father of Elizabeth’s baby. But later, a paternity test proved that Bing was indeed the father of the child. But as people suggested that Matthew Perry might be the long lost dad, Perry responded with humor, indicating that if he was the father of the child, then that impregnation had happened like none other in the history of the planet.

But then, with his tongue firmly implanted in cheek, he says that he is considering a lawsuit against the baby. After all, with no baby, there would be no accusation? Perry’s comment is intended as humor; it is not a serious charge to take to court. Unfortunately, many real-world accusations that we make contain about as much sense. Too often, things get blown way out of proportion as we build up the supposed crimes that have been committed against us in our minds. We threaten to sue over nothing, and, as a result, the frivolous lawsuits fill our courts.

Solomon’s advice is to slow the process down. Don’t react immediately to the things that we think we see with our eyes, because if we get to court and we are wrong, then the shame will belong to us. And don’t try to profit off of your neighbor by quickly taking advantage of a perceived wrong. Pause and try to work the conflict between you and your neighbor out. Because if we can do this, then everyone will be happier in the end.

This is an important biblical idea. And we know this because it appears across the pages of our Holy Book. Paul agreed with Solomon when it came to this kind of lawsuit – “The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters” (1 Corinthians 6:7-8). Paul seems to indicate here that there are times when we should choose to suffer the wrong rather than take our neighbor to court. After all, the time will come when we will, unintentionally, harm them too.

And Jesus also made a similar statement.

Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny (Luke 12:57-59).  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Proverbs 26