Worldly Sorrow

God is more interested in your future and your relationships than you are. Billy Graham

Worldly Sorrow

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
2 Corinthians 7:10

In Mark 10:17-22, we read of a rich young ruler who came to Jesus and asked what he should do to receive eternal life. The Lord responded with some of the ten commandments, to which the young man promptly replied that he had been obedient to those commands from an early age.

 

So Jesus challenged him further, telling him to sell his possessions, giving all he had to the poor; then he would be free to follow Jesus, gaining eternal treasures in heaven.

The rich man was very sorrowful to hear that he had to part with his worldly possessions because he did not recognise the value of giving up all to follow Jesus, who offered him eternal life. When we are surrounded by material wealth, it is easy to put our trust and confidence in the things of this world, assuming that they will give us security and bring us happiness.

There was a man whom I know very well, who had built a beautiful home with his hard earned savings. Although he seldom lived in it, the house was very close to his heart and the Lord wanted this man to sell it. He tried hard to keep the house and eventually, he lost the joy of the Lord. However, the moment he obeyed and sold the house, he not only received his joy back but he was blessed by the Lord.

Although it may sometimes seem hard to obey His call and we have to forsake things that are close to our heart, the Lord wants us to put Him above all else in our lives. Godly sorrow from a repentant heart will lead to eternal treasures in heaven but sorrow for the things of the world will only bring death.

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