Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place,
Pulpit Series Volume 17 Issue 30 07/22/2007
The laws of sowing and reaping: Firstly, the type of seed that we sow determines the type of harvest that we reap.
Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Most of us during our life time sow mainly non-spiritual seed and therefore we end up reaping largely non-spiritual harvests.
This doesn’t seem so bad at first glance, but friends there are definitely times when we will have spiritual needs. When we suffer trials, illness or old age we require spiritual "things" to satisfy us - and discover that we lack them.Secondly, the quantity of seed sown is also important because If you sow sparingly you shall reap sparingly; and if you sow bountifully you shall reap bountifully II Corinthians 9:6
It is all about sowing the “right” seed, because if you sow the wrong seed, you are going to reap the wrong crops. Thirdly, we cannot choose to sow at any time that we fancy because to everything there is a season and time to every purpose under the heaven - a time to plant Ecclesiastes 6:1, 2
Fourthly, there is always a lag-period between sowing and reaping and we must not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not Galatians 6:9
Are we over-sowing "seeds of materialism" which will result in an over-harvest of material things?
We must be careful of what we sow in our physical bodies - are we sowing seeds of ill heath with cigarettes, alcohol, overeating, lack of exercise?
Are we sowing "seeds of neglect" with our parents so that we will eventually reap "harvests of neglect" from our children?
Or seeds of rudeness" to them, to reap the same from our children?Are we sowing too little spiritual seeds to see us through our times of trials, illnesses and old age?
Are we sowing seeds of prayer to gather a bountiful harvests of answers in due time?
Are we giving to the needy and reaping God's bounty?
Do we realize that at the end of it all, almost all things are received according to the laws of sowing and reaping - the notable exception is our eternal salvation which is God's free gift!Psalm 126:5, 6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed, shall no doubt come again rejoicing, bringing sheaves with him.
If the past has taught us anything it is that every cause brings its effect, every action has a consequence. The Chinese have a saying: "If a man plants melons he will reap melons; if he sows beans, he will reap beans." And this is true of everyone's life; good begets good, and evil leads to evil. True enough, the sun shines on the saint and the sinner alike, and too often it seems that the wicked prosper. But we can say with certainty that, with the individual as with the nation, the flourishing of the wicked is an illusion, for, without exception, life keeps books on us all. In the end, we are all the sum total of our actions. Character cannot be counterfeited, nor can it put on and cast off as if it were a garment to meet the whim of the moment. Like the markings on wood which are ingrained in the very heart of the tree, character requires time and nurturing for growth and development. Friends, day by day, we write our own destiny… we become what we do."
The implications of this principle (we reap what we sow) are important and certainly worthy of our consideration.
WHAT WE ARE TODAY, IS DUE TO WHAT WE DID YESTERDAY
Our attitudes and character are all a result of our actions in the past. Don’t bother trying to lay blame on heredity, environment, parents, society, etc. Such things influence us only to the degree that we let them.
It is time we accept responsibility for our actions, for God will demand it of us one day!
II Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ..
Truly, the present reveals much about our past!
WHAT WE ARE TOMORROW, WILL BE DUE TO WHAT WE DO TODAY
We can change, if we do not like what we are today!
II Corinthians 5:17 if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
But such change comes slowly, not overnight.. We must begin sowing today, if we want to reap tomorrow!
Galatians 5:16-17 Walk in the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. The flesh and the Spirit are contrary to each other. Even today we will make choices which will affect the rest of our lives!
Far too often people don’t consider the crop they will reap when they "sow their wild oats". This leads to much praying for crop failure!
TWO OPTIONS…
Either we sow to the flesh or we sow to the Spirit. Those who sow to the Spirit reap everlasting life (abundant life, salvation) They will reap the fruit of the Spirit.
You can't do both Galatians 5:16-17 TWO CHOICES... which shall it be?
a. Sow to the Spirit and reap eternal life?
b. Sow to the flesh and reap corruption?
I HOPE YOU SOW TO THE SPIRIT… We are told to do good to all, especially brethren Galatians 6:10
I Timothy 6:17-19 shows us that as we sow to the Spirit (doing good to all) we lay up treasure in heaven.
We shall reap if we don't lose heart and give up. Be patient. Learn from the farmer
...have faith like a farmer!
Vance Havner once said, Much church giving is to ease the conscience. Singing in the choir, teaching a class, giving five dollars, may be only a nice way of 'paying off' the Lord while the heart really is set on the concubines of self and sin. It is one thing to write out a handsome check for the church; it is another to give God oneself and the ability by which one earned the check!
We should never be embarrassed into giving, nor should we be embarrassed by our giving.
True grace-based giving is the evidence of God's grace working in our hearts.
It is giving yourself totally to God and that includes keeping your checkbook handy for those occasions when He needs it.
When we do this, then we will not be an embarrassment to the Lord, nor will we be embarrassed.
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