The Strength to Be Wronged | 1 Corinthians 6:7-8

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Our text today is 1 Corinthians 6:7-8.

Most people believe strength looks like fighting back, striking first, or refusing to let anyone take advantage of them. Paul flips that entire worldview in two sentences.

To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers! — 1 Corinthians 6:7–8

Paul doesn’t merely say lawsuits are messy or unfortunate. He says they reveal defeat—a spiritual collapse long before a judge renders a verdict.

Why? Because believers were willing to destroy each other to protect their pride, their possessions, their image, or their “rights.”

So Paul asks the question no one wants to ask: “Why not rather suffer wrong?”

This cuts against everything the world teaches—yet it matches everything Jesus modeled.

Strength in the Kingdom is not the ability to crush someone. It’s the ability to be mistreated without becoming bitter. It’s the willingness to take the hit without hitting back. It’s the courage to absorb injustice—when necessary—for the sake of love, unity, and witness.

This isn’t weakness. It’s Christlike power.

It’s the strength that made Jesus stay silent before His accusers. It’s the strength that kept Him from calling legions of angels. It’s the strength that absorbed the cross instead of avoiding it.

The Corinthians thought they were strong by standing up for themselves. But in doing so, they didn’t just protect themselves—they wronged and defrauded their own brothers.

Paul is asking them—and us—to consider a harder path: Sometimes the strongest thing a Christian can do is suffer well. Because suffering wrong for the sake of righteousness is never defeat. In the Kingdom, it’s victory.

And sometimes choosing to lose makes room for Christ to win through you.

Suffer well. Trust Christ with the outcome.

DO THIS:

Choose one place where you’re tempted to fight for your “rights.” Ask God if surrender—not retaliation—is the better witness.

ASK THIS:

1. Why does suffering wrong feel so impossible in the moment?
2. Where am I choosing pride over peace?
3. How might Christ be calling me to a harder, stronger path?

PRAY THIS:

Father, give me the strength to suffer well. Keep my heart soft when I’m wronged, and make me more like Jesus—strong, humble, and willing to trust You with every outcome. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

“Lead Me to the Cross”