Liens and Lawyers

I'm remembering the first time some one refused to pay for services rendered. Business seemed to be cooking along and I had a pretty good size job going. I think we had finished installing all new windows in the house and the plasterer was finishing up. I thought we were progressing well but after presenting the owner, a lawyer, with a bill for the current work I was greeted by; I am not going to pay you and get off my job. That was a shock and the bill was substantial. We packed up our stuff and I tried to figure out what to do next. I should have been able to stop the job from going forward but the city rolled his permit over to an owner/builder and let him move on. Next move was to put a lien on the house, that will force him to pay. Liens are good for one year, you then need to go to court or let it go ( I think you can renew it but didn't know it then). I am not letting this go, so I hire a lawyer to jump in the fray. Of course, I have to pay him a retainer and if we win the owner pays up and if we lose, I pay some more. The lawyers banter back and forth and its time to either take our chance in court or accept their final offer of half of what is owed. I take the offer and after paying the lawyer receive about a quarter of what is owed. How is a loss still a victory? When the Lord is in control. You see at the initial "firing" I had made enough money to cover the outstanding expenses without any serious loss. Secondly, as I was searching for wisdom on whether or not to go to court his word spoke to me in my morning devotion and He basically said; don't sue a brother and leave the rest up to me, and I did!