In his book NARCONOMICS, economist Tom Wainwright argues that drug cartels do not necessarily have more conflicts than other businesses. But they resolve conflicts with guns because they cannot use the legal system. In other words, drug lords murder people because when a contract for illegal drugs is breached, the seller can’t file a lawsuit against the buyer to enforce the terms of the contract.
Our legal system is better than the shootouts of the Old West and modern drug cartels.
Do you know what the secret to a working legal system is? It is NOT education, wisdom, precedent, or the threat of fines or incarceration.
The power of our legal system is OBJECTIVITY. Lawyers and judges, despite their education, are not morally superior to anyone else. Their hearts may be evil, their motives impure. But because they are not personally involved in the case, they can be objective. That’s the secret.
Each party hires a surrogate to stand in as his agent—a surrogate who is not involved. Each lawyer puts aside emotions and evaluates the case on its merits. Then the state hires a third surrogate to stand in as the agent of the law. And he can judge between the parties and impartially apply the law to the facts because he is also OBJECTIVE.
It is not a perfect system, but filing a lawsuit is better than taking matters into your own hands. It is better than killing each other.
“So lawsuits break out like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field” Hosea 10:4.
God says lawsuits break out when people become rebellious and no longer respect God, the king, or each other, Hosea 10:2-4.
Our court system is a good system—it beats murder—but too many lawsuits says something about the hearts of the people.
As a lawyer, I have advocated for both plaintiffs and defendants. As an individual, I have been both a plaintiff and defendant—and a jury foreman.
But the best advice I can give about the courthouse is stay out of it. Learn to FORGIVE. Be a PEACEMAKER. Let some things go. Roll with the punches when possible.
“SETTLE matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still on the way” Matthew 5:25.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God” Matthew 5:9.
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