1 So I made up my own mind not to pay you another painful visit. 2 For if I make you sad, who would be left to make me glad but the one I caused to be sad? 3 And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came I would not have sadness from those who ought to make me rejoice, since I am confident in you all that my joy would be yours. 4 For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not to make you sad, but to let you know the love that I have especially for you.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Grace Ip

In these verses, Paul talks about a very difficult letter he had written to the Corinthian church, to rebuke them for tolerating sinful behaviour and call them to repentance. We don’t have that letter – he wrote it in between the letters we know as 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians. But it’s clear that Paul found it very painful to have to write those things to them. In verse 4, he tells them he wrote to them out of “great distress and anguish of heart” and “with many tears”. He did not want to grieve them or cause them hurt, but to show his deep love for them.

This verse reminds me that love sometimes requires us to say hard things. We all sometimes face similar situations in life. Whether it’s a parent disciplining a child, a friend offering honest feedback or rebuke, or a leader addressing a problem, it can be painful to speak the truth in love. It’s easy to shy away from confronting wrongdoing or addressing uncomfortable issues, because we don’t want to cause pain. Or perhaps we just want to avoid conflict at all costs. However, Paul reminds us that avoiding those difficult conversations Is actually unloving! On the positive side, when correction is motivated by love and handled with grace, it can lead to healing and growth.

Try to remember and reflect on times when someone else has lovingly corrected you. Did you find yourself resisting their correction out of pride or stubbornness, or welcoming it with thankfulness to God? How did their guidance shape you for the better?

Is there someone in your life whom God is calling you to lovingly confront or guide? Pray and ask God to help you with that:

Lord, help me to love others enough to speak truth in love and grace. Give me the wisdom and courage to speak with compassion. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Grace is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.