“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” II Corinthians 7:10
Sorrow is something that’s part of life. There’s no avoiding it. However, not all sorrow is the same, and depending on the kind of sorrow you have, it will lead to drastically different outcomes. Godly sorrow leads to repentance and salvation, while worldly sorrow leads to death!
Let’s look at an Old Testament story of someone who had godly sorrow and did the right thing.
King David’s response after being confronted by Nathan the prophet about his sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12) is a classic example. David’s sorrow led him to repent sincerely before God, expressing his repentance in Psalm 51, where he pleaded for mercy and a clean heart. This godly sorrow brought about a transformation in David’s life, leading him to restoration with God. He didn’t walk away without consequences, but he did walk away right with God.
On the other hand, we have the story of Judas Iscariot, who experienced worldly sorrow. After betraying Jesus, Judas felt remorse but instead of turning to God for forgiveness hr turned to the religious leaders who rejected him, and he chose to end his life (Matthew 27:3-5). His sorrow led to physical despair and spiritual death in hell, showing the destructive path of worldly sorrow.
So, how can we tell if we have worldly sorrow or godly sorrow?
“For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” II Corinthians 7:11
Godly sorrow has the following characteristics:
- Godly sorrow is careful: It makes us cautious about our actions and leads us to avoid sin.
- Godly sorrow is clearing: It leads to confession and clearing of guilt.
- Godly sorrow has indignation toward sin: It causes us to have a strong dislike for sin.
- Godly sorrow has fear of the Lord: It brings a reverent fear of offending God and a fear of losing out on his blessings!
- Godly sorrow has vehement desires: It creates a strong desire to live in a way that pleases God.
- Godly sorrow has zeal: It motivates us to serve God with all our heart and to make amends where possible.
- Godly sorrow has revenge to do right: It inspires us to take action against sin and to pursue righteousness.
Understanding the difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow is crucial for our spiritual growth. Godly sorrow brings us closer to God, leading us on a path to salvation and eternal life. It transforms our heart and mind, guiding us to live a life that honors God. Worldly sorrow, on the other hand, leaves us in despair, trapped in our sins, and ultimately leads to spiritual death.
As we face the sorrows of life, let’s strive to cultivate godly sorrow that leads to repentance. Let’s examine our hearts when we feel sorrowful, asking ourselves whether our sorrow is moving us closer to God or pushing us further away. By embracing godly sorrow, we can experience the joy of salvation and the peace that comes from a right relationship with God.
