Morning Moments

It hurts to hurt to heal and help.

Sound crazy? Paul said it. WHAT? WHERE? In 2 Corinthians 7:8-10 (KJV)
For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. [9] Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. [10] For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Did your mom or dad ever say to you before a spanking (days gone bye), "This hurts me more than it hurts you." Well, that is what Paul is saying.

In the first place he loved them and could not stand by and say nothing of the divisions, divorces, debauchery, and the deception. Love will not allow one to be silent about a runaway train headed toward a washed out bridge. But it is absolutely necessary to do whatever it takes to get the attention.

The problem too often is that the one being corrected or warned does not receive it and becomes an enemy. I have seen it happen so many time in the pastorate. Wouldn't it be nice if no one ever needed correction? But you can forget that, it just ain't happening. I often wonder if there had been "brothers" who lead Paul's first letter and said, "He could have been a little less intense."

Correction is something nobody wants and everybody needs. It is for the purpose of helping, even though it may hurt receiving it. It should hurt! It is supposed to hurt. That is why the Scripture says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend." "A friend loveth at all times," but a friend, a true friend will tell you the truth, even if it endangers the relationship.

THAT is what Paul had done in his first letter to the Corinthians and then he went through the same old stuff we all go through when having to correct - stuff like, "Was I too hard?" "Could I have said it differently?" "Will I lose my friend?" Paul was sorry that he had to do what he did, and simply had to trust God with the results. God worked and the church at Corinth received, and Paul was relieved. Happy Ending.

Sometimes in life we must be confrontational and corrective but it must always be done in love and for the betterment of the one being corrected - not for destruction, nor belittlement, nor criticism, but for well being. Just remember to reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all longsuffering (fruit of the Spirit) and doctrine (the Word of God). Then it's up to God!

Thank you Lord for showing us how Paul hurt for having to hurt to hurt to help.