TWO KINDS OF SORROW, ONE GOOD, ONE BAD
2 CORINTHIANS 7:8-11
2 CORINTHIANS 7:8-11 NKJ
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.
OBSERVATION:
There are two kinds of sorrow. One kind produces good results, the other is bad.
Paul was writing to a church that had previously embraced a man who had taken his father's wife and was sleeping with her. There is nothing good about what he did, and Paul charged the church to deal with the situation. All of this took place in the first letter to the Corinthians.
In the second letter, Paul encourages the church to forgive and comfort the man who had repented. Paul did not want him swallowed up with too much sorrow. (2 Corinthians 2:7)
Paul now is recalling the process that the church went through. His admonishment made them sorrowful. But it was a godly sorrow. The telltale characteristic of godly sorrow is that it leads to repentance. The church repented. They turned in the right direction.
Godly sorrow worked some good things in this church. It produced diligence, clearing of themselves, zeal, godly fear, the right kind of desire, and vindication. Because of their godly sorrow, the Corinthian church was cleared of its error. So much so that Paul praised them for their response.
Paul also mentioned that there is a sorrow of the world that produces death. The death referred to here is the separation from God, not physically dying. In Proverbs 15:13, a contrast is made between a merry, happy heart and sorrow of the heart. The merry heart shows up in the face, but sorrow of heart breaks the spirit.
A sorrow that turns us to God and is a catalyst for change is good. And this is very different from the world's heartbreaking sorrow.
APPLICATION:
Ever listened to a message or been reading your bible and realized you were off track with God? I sure have. When that happens, that is not God punishing you, but rather your own heart letting you know that change is needed. So repent. Ask God for forgiveness and make the change.
When you are sorrowful regarding a situation or even a barrage of negative thoughts, ask God for His help. He is the God who comforts those who are down. (2 Corinthians 7:6) So either way, get God involved in the solution.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Father. You do not want me full of sorrow. You do want my heart to be all for You.