THE RIGHT KIND OF SORROW
2 Corinthians 7:8-11 NKJV
8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
I recently did a devotional called, Swallowed Up with Sorrow, taken from 2 Corinthians 2:7. Paul was concerned that the isolation by the church of a certain believer who had sinned was going to be too much for him. Paul did not want this brother in the Lord swallowed up with too much sorrow. So why is Paul now encouraging sorrow? The key is found in the type of sorrow Paul refers to.
Paul is talking about a godly sorrow. This godly sorrow is different from the sorrow of the world because this sorrow leads to repentance. This was a sorrow that caused the Corinthian church to repent before God for what they had done. And this godly sorrow is productive. Paul said that godly sorrow produces repentance that leads to salvation. And this kind of sorrow does not leave a person with regrets. Unlike the sorrow of the world that produces death. Not physically dying but certainly a death of the peace and joy that a believer has in Christ. We have all experienced or known someone who has dealt with worldly sorrow, which does not produce anything good. Worldly sorrow can be a big open door to oppression and depression.
No, this godly sorrow produced some good things in the lives of the Corinthians. It produced diligence and the effort to come clean before God. It produced indignation or a great burden. This sorrow of the heart before God produced fear a great respect and desire to live right in God’s sight. The godly sorrow produced strong desire and a strong burning need to make things right. The result of this godly sorrow provided vindication, and the Corinthians walked clear of their error.
APPLICATION
I would venture to say that if you have been a Christian for any length of time, you have experienced this godly sorrow. All of us have missed it since becoming a believer. All of us have fallen short. And we felt bad about what we did. Feeling bad is not enough. It is a good start, but we want this godly sorrow to produce good things in us.
Whenever we miss the mark and sin, don’t stay in the bad feelings. This is the time to repent and ask God for forgiveness. This is the time to clear ourselves from our errors. Not punish ourselves, but clear ourselves by genuinely asking the Lord to forgive us and get started again on the right path. Beating ourselves up is not productive. Diligently wanting to come clean before God produces good things. God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us so we can stand before Him without a sense of guilt and shame.
Godly sorrow is the right kind of sorrow. Not being sorry at all when we have sinned is a completely different matter.
PRAYER
Lord, forgive me for where I have missed it. I purpose to walk in reverence before You and stay clean and clear. Thank You that I feel a godly sorrow when I have missed it. This means my heart is still tender toward You.