Principle Of Harvest

Opening Illustration: Somewhere in the world right now a farmer is dropping seeds into the ground. Soon those seeds will begin to germinate where they were planted. The carefully prepared soil that appears barren today will become a field ready for harvest.

This prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi is a powerful model of this longing to bring positive change in a hurting world: “Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.”

A farmer who sows wheat is never surprised when wheat grows from the ground where it was planted. That’s the universal law of sowing and reaping. Paul used it to illustrate a corresponding spiritual principle: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Gal. 6:7). Our sinful nature says, “Satisfy yourself,” while the Spirit urges us to please God (v.8). Today is planting time. God has promised: “In due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (v.9).

Introduction: Anytime a farmer goes out to sow seeds, he is not surprised to the reaping of the same kind. But there is something beautiful in it. If we sow one seed, we do not reap one seed. We may reap 10 times, a hundred times over even thousand times of the seed of the same kind. You will not reap something different from what you sowed. Therefore, sow carefully, for what you sow, you shall reap.

The Church's mission is to sow the pure seed -- God's word (1 Tim. 3:15). When the church gets involved in other things and ceases to do that, it is no long the people of God, the called-out group, operating under the authority of Christ, the head! When the church sows an immature, diluted, hybrid and substandard seed, DO NOT expect to reap a mature and strong church of Christ. What kind of disciples did Jesus have?

Two fields:

Flesh 2 Cor. 4:16-18 -- the physical man, materials, behavior. The physical man, of course, is important, but to be secondary to the spiritual man!

Spirit (1 Tim 6:17-19 -- trust God, layup treasures in heaven, where they will nor deteriorate or be stolen (Matt. 6:19-21).

Results: Corruption and Life eternal.

I. IMPLICATIONS OF THE PRINCIPLE

(a) WHAT WE ARE TODAY, IS DUE TO WHAT WE DID YESTERDAY...

1. Our position, attitude, character, etc., is the result of our actions in the past

2. We cannot lay blame on heredity, environment, parents, society, etc.

3. Such things influenced us only to the degree that we let them

4. We must accept responsibility for our actions, for God will demand it of us one day! - cf. 2Co 5:10

-- Truly, the present reveals much about our past!

Illustration: Some folks who were at our church earlier always told me that whatever was happening in their life was the result of what they had sown and invested their life in the past.

(b) WHAT WE ARE TOMORROW, WILL BE DUE TO WHAT WE DO TODAY...

1. We can change, if we do not like what we are today! - cf. 2 Co 5:17

2. But such change comes slowly, not overnight - cf. Ro 12:1-2; 1Pe 2:1-2

3. We must begin sowing today, if we want to reap tomorrow!

4. While true of everyone, especially true for the young

a. They are making choices which will affect the rest of their lives!

b. They cannot "sow wild oats" and not "reap the harvest"!

-- Just as true, the present portends much about our future!

[And so, "we become what we do." Now let's consider the principle as applied by Paul in our text...]

How is it different from the Law of KARMA? Many people mistaken the principle of harvest with Karma.

Karma is a Hindu concept which tells us that whatever you sow you will reap, and this will determine your eternal future. However, when the Bible talks about sowing and reaping it tells us the consequences, we can face in our present life, but our identity and eternity is determined only by our faith in God’s saving grace. Karma is all about your prideful work that determines your eternal future. In Christ, you are forgiven of your iniquities but the consequences one has to bear right here.

II. APPLICATIONS OF THE PRINCIPLE

(i) WE ARE GIVEN TWO OPTIONS...

1. Either we sow to the flesh - Ga 6:8a

a. This entails the works of the flesh described earlier - cf. Ga 5:19-21

b. Those who sow to the flesh reap corruption (sorrow, disease, damnation)

c. They will not inherit the kingdom of God! - Ga 5:21