The apostle shows the importance of determining this when he writes: “For sadness in a godly way makes for repentance to salvation that is not to be regretted; but the sadness of the world produces death.” (2 Cor. 7:10) So it is a life-or-death matter that our motive be the right one. Worldly sadness does not stem from faith and love of God and righteousness. It is born of regret due to failure, disappointment, material or social loss, the prospect of undergoing punishment or shame. Worldly sadness mourns the unpleasant consequences wrongdoing brings. But it does not mourn over the unrighteousness itself, or the reproach it brings on God.​—Compare Jeremiah 6:13-15, 22-26.

The Corinthian congregation showed this being “saddened in a godly way.” When reproved by Paul for having harbored a practicer of wickedness in their midst, they responded and corrected the situation. They manifested their sadness at their wrong not only by fear but by “great earnestness . . . yes, clearing of [them]selves, yes, indignation [at the reproach the wrongdoer’s course had brought], . . . yes, longing, yes, zeal, yes, righting of the wrong!” (2 Cor. 7:11)