June 24, 2 Corinthians 7
He’s old enough to test Momma’s restraint. So, looking right at her, he defies her and does what she’s warned him not to do. Mom can’t afford to lose this contest of the wills. Her words are sharp; her grip is strong. The punishment is measured and swift. His defiance crumbles, his lip trembles, the tears flow. He is sorry he disobeyed. Her reassuring expressions of love comfort them both in the aftermath. She loves her son, and wants what is best for him. He needs correction for his own good. And
somewhere, behind the tears, he appreciates it.
Every loving parent can understand Paul’s mixed feelings about correcting the Corinthians and making them sad. He regretted it was necessary, but he rejoiced at the outcome. His rebuke hurt their feelings, but helped them make a needed change.
The Corinthians were Paul’s “children,” having come to faith in Christ under his teaching. Paul found it rewarding to watch his children grow, and painful to correct them when it was necessary. The parenting dynamics were somewhat different because these “children” were adults. That made the correction harder, and the outcome more uncertain than doing the same thing with a small child.
Has your heart ever been broken by a correction from the word of God? Maybe it came right off the page, or through a faithful teacher who loved you enough to tell you the truth. If so, you can understand the Corinthians’ sorrow. It reminds me of David, stricken by grief and regret when Nathan convicted him of his sin with Bathsheba. This grief is not being sorry for getting caught, or for the consequences we’ve brought on ourselves. This sorrow comes from realizing we have done wrong. We have broken God’s law, insulted his love and offended his holiness. The tears are genuine. We truly regret our disobedience.
What Paul calls “godly grief” leads to a good outcome—it produces a change we do not regret. The Bible word for that change is repentance. Instead of self-destructive behavior or angry retaliation, repentance leads to restoration and reconciliation. The Corinthians were earnest about doing what was right and indignant about having done wrong. With renewed zeal and a holy respect for God, they longed for his approval. This positive outcome pleased Paul, and made the unpleasant rebuke worthwhile.
Here’s a pattern for both sides of such a situation. When we’re the parent figure, we should speak and act with the desired outcome (repentance) in mind. We don’t correct to vent our anger or to destroy the person we’re correcting. And when we’re the disobedient child who needs correction, we should be humble enough to hear and have our hearts broken by the rebuke. Then we need to show by our actions that the godly grief has produced a positive change in us. When we can respond with genuine gratitude and not malice toward those who lovingly correct us, we’ll know we’re on our way to maturity.
From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide for Your Journey Through the New Testament,
Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—June 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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