Are You Sorry?

It has often been said that the two hardest words to utter in the English language are “I’m sorry.”

We all make mistakes, yet it is difficult to admit when a mistake is made. It is also hard to help others realize when they make a mistake.

But, a true friend “loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17).” Sometimes this must mean telling others that they are living in sin. Paul asked the Galatians, “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth (Galatians 4:16)?” A true friend tells the truth, even when it is not popular.

Consider what happens when a person is told they made a mistake. The initial response may be disbelief and/or anger, but hopefully the attitude will turn to sorrow.

Is it wrong to make a person feel sorrow? Consider Paul’s words to the Corinthians: “For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted (2 Corinthians 7:8-10)…”

If we truly are sorry, we’ll repent! If we do not repent, we’ll perish (Luke 13:3,5). If we can help others to feel sorry in a godly way, leading to repentance, we can help to save many souls.