In 2 Corinthians seven, Paul refers to two kinds of sorrow—the sorrow of the world and godly sorrow.

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

The results of these two kinds of sorrow are significantly different.  While godly sorrow leads to salvation, the sorrow of this world leads to death.

Worldly sorrow is caused by things that have nothing to do with God.  It might be caused simply because one’s sin has been discovered.  When one is sinning secretly, and that secret is exposed, the result is often disappointment and shame that brings sorrow.

I recently read of a man in the process of getting married.  He and his bride-to-be had just finished exchanging vows when suddenly the doors of the church building swung open and in came his mistress all dress up in a wedding gown.  Can you imagine the commotion that caused?  Surely the man was sorry this happened, but was he sorry that he had a secret girlfriend, or just that she crashed his wedding ceremony, and his secret came to light?  Probably the latter.  That is an example of worldly sorrow.

Another example of the sorrow of this world would be when someone is sorry only because he has to suffer the consequences of his sin.  In other words, the punishment he must now endure brings him sorrow.  Prisons are filled with men and women who are experiencing this kind of sorrow.  Many of them get out of prison and commit the same crime that got them there in the first place because they have never repented.

Godly sorrow is caused when one truly regrets disappointing God.  He realizes that he has brought God grief and it makes him sad.  This is the sorrow Jesus spoke of in the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:4 (KJV)
⁴  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Jesus was speaking of mourning over sin, beginning with one’s personal sins.  This comes from one acknowledging the sin he has committed, leading him to repent and ask God for forgiveness (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9), which in turn results in his reconciliation with God.  This is why Paul said that godly sorrow leads to salvation.

We should all be disappointed in ourselves when we sin against God, knowing that we have let Him down and brought Him grief.  If we truly feel the sting of making God sad, we will strive harder to avoid it.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.