We live in a senior community, so it is not unusual for us to observe those who have recently lost a loved one. The grief they share is natural and an expression of love for the departed. We, ourselves, experienced this grief recently with the loss of a beloved aunt.
In our lives we experience two types of grief, some good and some bad. II Corinthians 7:10 describes these types of griefs as it says, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. Godly grief overtakes us after we sin and experience the remorse of leaving God’s approval. It is good in that godly grief motivates us to leave our sin behind and return to God.
Worldly grief is also remorse, but it is remorse at losing the world’s approval. This grief produces death as it causes us to seek the world’s approval, as opposed to God’s approval. It knows no limits as far as doing anything we can to gain the world’s approval. We will exercise our pride, arrogance, and greed to garner the attention of others.
Whose approval do you most seek? Are you motivated by worldly grief to seek the approval of men? Or are you motivated by godly grief to forsake sin and follow God?
Reluctant Retiree 