2 Corinthians 7:11
“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.”
Every action has a byproduct that it produces. We often talk about the byproduct without talking about the original action. The action that it takes to get the byproduct is important to obtaining what we want.
The byproduct of godly sorrow is truly plenteous. When a person sins, it is imperative for them to have godly sorrow towards their sin. Godly sorrow is not upset that you have been caught; rather, godly sorrow is upset at yourself that you did wrong. The verse above shows us what happens when a person has godly sorrow.
First, it brings a carefulness about what you do. In other words, godly sorrow doesn’t blame others, but it causes a person to be very careful about getting around whatever caused them to do wrong. For instance, if you have ever been electrocuted, you are always very careful about working around electricity. Likewise, when a person has godly sorrow, they will be very careful about what they do so that they won’t do that same wrong again.
Second, godly sorrow causes a person to want to clear the air. In other words, godly sorrow clears your conscience. Godly sorrow doesn’t try to hide or change the story about their sin, but it causes them to be honest about what they’ve done which produces a clarity of the mind and spirit. You will find that godly sorrow is not only good for the one who did wrong, but it disarms the critics of the one who committed the sin.
Third, godly sorrow causes someone to be upset with themselves. Godly sorrow doesn’t attack the one who caught them, but it causes you to be highly upset that you would commit such a sin. Godly sorrow won’t be indignant with others who caught you, rather it will cause you to be indignant with yourself that you allowed yourself succumb to sin.
Fourth, godly sorrow will cause a person to fear. I’m not saying that you will live in fear, but it gives an honest fear that causes a true estimation of oneself that they are not greater than sin. When a person has godly sorrow they will understand the true ramifications of sin, which will cause a healthy fear of sin.
Fifth, godly sorrow produces a fire and zeal to get revenge with the Devil. When a person has godly sorrow, they are not trying to get revenge with those who caught them, but they want to get revenge with the Devil. In other words, you will find godly sorrow will cause one to get heavily involved in serving the LORD so that they can do more for Christ than what they did for the Devil. You see this in the life of the Apostle Paul who was more zealous for Christ than he was when he tried to kill Christians. Godly sorrow creates a zeal in someone that motivates them to do more for God.
Friend, you must realize that everyone commits sin. When you do, it is important that you respond to it with a godly sorrow. Be careful not to blame others, instead have a godly sorrow. A godly sorrow will help you to be used again by God.