Two kinds of sorrow

As I was listening to an audio bible on the way to work the other day, I was inspired by the Apostle Paul’s comparison of the two very different kinds of sorrow.

For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
2 Corinthians 7:10

Paul drew a stark comparison between these two kinds of sorrow. The result of one is salvation while the result of the other is death. Let’s take a closer look at these two kinds of sorrow.

Examples of Godly Sorrow

One example of Godly sorrow is the sorrow that Peter felt after he realized he had denied the Lord three times, just as Jesus prophesied he would (Matthew 26:69-75). Peter’s immediate reaction when he realized that he had committed a grievous sin against the Lord was that he went out and wept bitterly.

This doesn’t mean that being sorrowful to the point of weeping is what differentiates Godly sorrow from worldly sorrow. The difference is that Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to obedience. True repentance cannot occur apart from one’s sorrow over their sin.

A good example of this kind of sorrow is found in the 2nd Corinthians chapter 7. In his previous letter, the apostle Paul rebuked the Corinthians for some of the sinful behavior that had been allowed to continue in the church. This rebuke, as you might imagine made the Corinthians sorrowful for a little while but thanks be to God, the Corinthians repented of their sin.

For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.
2 Corinthians 7:11

Godly sorrow can only be produced in a person who’s indwelt by the Holy Spirit because it’s the Holy Spirit who produces Godly sorrow in us. Even though we’re saved and therefore indwelt by the Holy Spirit our sinful nature will urge us to sin again. But the result of being indwelt by the Holy Spirit is that we eagerly and aggressively pursue righteousness and are no longer complacent to sin. This is a vital key to living a righteous life because those who pursue righteousness and aren’t complacent to sin will do everything they can to avoid it.

Worldly sorrow

Now let’s take a look at worldly sorrow.

One example of this is the sorrow that Judas Iscariot felt when he realized his betrayal was leading to the death of Jesus (Matthew 27:3-4). But instead of the sting of his sin resulting in repentance, it led to his suicide (Matthew 27:5).

Bringing the point closer to home, worldly sorrow is the remorse that people feel when they’ve been caught in a sinful act. For example, when they’re caught in a lie, caught stealing, caught in an adulterous affair, or some other shameful act they know is wrong. Being caught in the act of sin causes their pride to be wounded and instead of being sorrowful for committing the sin, they’re instead sorrowful that their lust for that sin will now go unfulfilled.

The guilt they feel often leads to shame, despair, depression, self-pity, hopelessness, and can even lead to death.

People who continue to practice sin and who never feel convicted by the Holy Spirit to repent from their sins are in danger of being eternally separated from God. Jesus taught about the eternal result of unrepentant sin when He said “And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell” (Mark 9:47). He wasn’t teaching self-mutilation but rather was speaking figuratively to emphasize the seriousness of sin.

Parting thoughts

Whether you’re flirting with sin or neck-deep in it, it’s time for you to get serious about turning your life fully over to Jesus as the Lord of your life. I believe that time is short. We don’t know when we’ll draw our last breath and we don’t know when the Lord will return for his church.

If you’re battling addictions or find yourself in a cycle of repeating your favorite sin, ask God to help you break free and get some help from someone you trust. Jesus made it crystal clear that this is a serious matter of the highest importance.

May God shine His face upon you,
Daniel