RESCUED FROM THE JAWS OF SORROW
2 CORINTHIANS 2:7-8
2 CORINTHIANS 2:7-8 NKJ
7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.
OBSERVATION:
The person Paul is talking about in this passage was the guy in 1 Corinthians 5. He was the man who was sleeping with his stepmom.
Evidently, he had repented and changed his ways, so Paul is instructing the church as to what to do next.
Paul did not want this man to be swallowed up with too much sorrow. This gives us a bit of spiritual insight into what too much sorrow can do in a person's life. It can swallow them up.
There is a Godly sorrow that we sense when we have done wrong. Our conscience bothers us, and we can feel bad. But there is also a sorrow of the world, and it can lead to nothing good in our lives. In fact, it can consume us. (2 Corinthians 7:10)
So what is the answer for sorrow? What do we do with someone literally swallowed up with too much sadness?
Three things. If they have done wrong, forgive them. Our response to them is important. We don't help the other person by staying angry and holding a grudge.
Comfort them. We saw this word yesterday as Paul referred to the God who comforts us so that we might comfort others.
Reaffirm your love for them. Someone caught up in a sorrowful state can be lifted by love.
The Corinthian church was given instructions as to how to reconnect this hurting brother. Forgive, encourage and reaffirm their love.
APPLICATION:
How many people today are being swallowed up with too much sorrow? How many are hurting over their past or their mistakes and blown opportunities?
We have answers. More than just a pat on the back and an empathetic look. We have things we can do.
We have the capacity to forgive. To offer forgiveness because Christ has forgiven us.
Comfort. We have the ability to connect others with the comfort and encouragement God has given us.
Love. We can share the God kind of love that acts regardless of feelings and lifts and builds up the people around us.
We can be used by God to rescue others from the jaws of sorrow.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, use me to help and lift those around me being swallowed up by sorrow.