The Good Sorrow

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 says, “Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.”

Observation: Paul had previously written a letter to the Corinthian church where he had to rebuke and correct them for many things they were doing wrong in their church and personal lives. Here he shares that we was sorry that he had to do it, but that they responded correctly and righteously from the rebuke and correction. Their sorrow turned into repentance thus making the letter from Paul useful. The Bible Knowledge Commentary makes some good observations that may be useful. It says, “They had exemplified repentance, a change of mind involving action in accord with God’s will. As such it was a godly sorrow (like Peter’s remorse after his denial of Christ). This was not a worldly sorrow which brings death (like Judas’ “sorrow” after he betrayed the Lord; Matt. 27:3-5). The Corinthians’ genuine sorrow . . . produced several things: (a) an earnestness or concerted effort to make amends, (b) an eagerness to vindicate themselves, (c) indignation against Paul’s opponent (2 Cor. 2:5-11), (d) alarm at their own passivity and its injurious effects (2:1-4), (e) longing and concern for Paul (cf. 7:7), and (f) readiness to see justice done (2:6).

Application: As you can see sorrow from one’s sin should lead to repentance. Imagine how we can apply this daily? The reality is that we all sin and fall short of God’s expectations. But he knows that. So it’s not “if we sin” but “when we sin” how will we respond to our sorrow? Will it be a fruitful sorrow? You can see from the commentary that there should be a process when we make bad choices. Our response should be to make it right if we have wronged someone and grow spiritually from our bad choices. If we are not growing there is something wrong. The more we sin and not learn or grow from it I think we start to become callous and hardened. And when this happens we get on a path that can truly lead to destruction.

Prayer: God, don’t let me ever turn away from your loving correction. And when I do face it let me know you love me and are growing me in the midst of pain.