The third of this series of “don’ts” refers to contention without cause. Today, as then, there are those who go to law about imagined wrongs. Unless a man has done us harm that is both real and reparable, we should not stir up trouble or take action against him.

 It may be thought that this advice permits litigation against those who have done us harm and thus contradicts the advice given by Paul (1 Cor. 6:1-7); but a comparison of the two passages shows complete harmony. Paul is speaking to the Corinthians about brother going to law with brother. It is better to suffer loss than to take a brother to court and so give publicity to the evil that a fellow believer has done us. God is well able to make up to us the loss. But the protection of the law is open to all who have been harmed by the actions of others, and the believer is free to seek protection against the malice of unbelievers (Rom. 13:3, 4).