So I decided that I would not bring you grief with another painful visit. 2 For if I cause you grief, who will make me glad? Certainly not someone I have grieved. 3 That is why I wrote to you as I did, so that when I do come, I won’t be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you all know that my joy comes from your being joyful.4 I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you. (NLT)

Surely every parent will identify with Paul’s words in the last sentence of verse 3? We want to see our children truly happy.

So the reason for Paul’s adjustment of his schedule had to do with pastoral sensitivity. He had already had one ‘’painful visit’’ to the church, and he didn’t want to put them through that again. However it did not mean he was pain averse. Instead of the ‘’painful visit’’ he wrote a ‘sorrowful’ letter (7:8 and following verses). It was no doubt hard for him to write it, and tough for them to read. But loving people sometimes requires saying, and doing, unpleasant things. Medicine is not always nice to take, but it seems that already the ‘medicine’ of Paul’s correspondence was working.

Paul’s approach shows that church discipline has to be performed, but it must always be controlled by love. People matter. How we treat people matters enormously. So, above all, Paul’s change of plan had been about love for people, and sparing them as much ”grief” as he could in the circumstances.

Let’s remember always that we ourselves are sinners, and ever be mindful of God’s love for sinful people.