Earnestness and Eagerness

 DEVOTION

THE 2^ND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

EARNESTNESS AND EAGERNESS

2 Cor 7:8-13

8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it — I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13 By all this we are encouraged.

NIV

Although we could spend time on so much of what Paul says here there is a central point that he makes about the difference between worldly and Godly sorrow. When he says that worldly sorrow brings death it has to mean that without faith in Jesus Christ a person who comes to the realization of the wrong they have done has no course of help, but sinks into despair and perhaps depression so deep that death is the only escape. This kind of wrongdoing is filled with regret and is harmful to life. However, Paul makes it clear that Godly sorrow is far different for it brings repentance and that leads to salvation which leaves no regret and that brings life. Godly sorrow is part of this process of transformation. Paul says that it produced certain tracts within them which must have been missing prior to their experiencing this Godly sorrow. Earnestness is the first he mentions. This has to be the earnestness concerning their own lives, which means an honest look within and seeing the wrong and eagerly wanting to clear themselves, being indignant and alarmed and longing and ready to see justice done. Although Paul is speaking about either one or more individuals which did this wrong, which some scholars believe it involved some incestuous act, the point here is wrong requires justice. However, Jesus already paid that price, he paid the price for justice against sin. We are told that Jesus takes away the sin of the world, that is faith in Jesus relieves us from the penalty of death for sin. But at the same time, we should not be eager to sin, but rather be honest with ourselves and see the sin that is within us and always be repenting, having this Godly sorrow for our failures, our weakness for certain temptations. We are not to ignore or justify our attitudes or behaviors thus making provisions for the flesh. However, it is also true that we cannot attain perfection while in the body, still, we are not to accept that imperfection is acceptable. That is we should always be in a state of transformation, improving, as when we are aware of our weakness, as Paul said before, turn our eyes, in a manner of speaking. That is trying to resist those things which tempt us. Yield to the Spirit instead of the temptation, whether that be an attitude, emotion, or behavior. We have heard the teaching about behaviors often enough, and that has led over the years to those lists of don’ts. It also seems we have heard little taught about the attitudes of the heart, bitterness, unforgiveness, even some point revengeful, which manifests itself through slander, which is that fancy word for gossip. No, earnestness and eagerness are hand in hand in our introspective style of living under the influence of the Spirit. Earnest with ourselves, and eager to overcome our faults with the help of the Spirit.