The Law of Reciprocity
“And God said, let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself upon the earth; and it was so.” Gen 1:11
“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Gen. 8:22
Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone; but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit. John 12:24
He that goes forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalms 126:6
Cast your bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days. Ecc. 11:11
“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.” Galatians 6:7/8
These scriptures bring into view what I call the law of reciprocity, which is a reciprocal condition of generous giving and receiving, and I’ll talk about that a little later on.
Here we are in the end of the year 2012, and on the threshold of a new year. And I myself these two questions, “What did I accomplish for Christ and His Kingdom this past year?” “And what plans do I have for the New Year that is ahead of me?”
Having a plan, and following through with the details of that plan always bring results. I realize that life is more than making new resolutions, or turning over a new leaf. Our past results are a predictor of future results unless we make some changes as we move into the New Year.
Within each one of us lays the potential of greatness if we dare to speak it forth in faith. This happens by sowing the seeds that God has placed in us, and waiting with patience for the harvest.
Remember in the early years of school, the teacher would have the children to bring something from home; it was called show and tell. I realize that that we are beyond the age of our youth, but they say the older we get the more we act like little children.
So to drive home my thought, I have a show and tell for you. I hold in my hand a pod, it contains seed. And the seed inside have the potential to produce a vine and on its branch you would find a beautiful bright orange and yellow colored flower called a trumpet flower because of it shape.
This flower is attractive to look at, and hummingbirds are fascinated with the flower. But as long as the seed stays in the pod there is no new life, there is no reproduction.
This apple that I hand in my hand contains seeds, which gives it the ability to reproduce of its kind. Leave the apple setting on a shelf for a length of time it will begin to wrinkle, and after a while that apple will rot, but the seed still has the DNA in it to live again.
Growing up on the farm gave me firsthand information about plant life, the animal kingdom and a host of other things. I remember in early spring dad would buy a fifty pound sack of potatoes. My dad, mother, Lee and I would take the potatoes and quarter them making sure that each piece had a dimple, or what they called an eye.
The eye gave the potato the ability to reproduce itself when placed in the ground. It was always fun to harvest the potatoes because of the warm sandy soil. There were plenty of potatoes to go around.
This is where the law of reciprocity comes in; there must be the right condition and relationship. The seed must be placed in the soil at the right depth and have the right moisture. And the warmth of the sun will cause the seed to die, and after death there will be resurrection. You do know that living is about dying.
God said while the earth remains there will be seedtime and harvest. Jesus said, “Except a corn of wheat fall in to the ground and die, it abides alone; but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit.”
The law of reciprocity works in the natural and also in the spiritual, bringing forth a harvest according to the seeds that are sown. This is why it so important that we sow good seed in fertile ground that is receptive, and has been properly prepared.
Paul said, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.” The one that sow to his flesh making provision for the indulgence of fleshly appetites and passions, find what the flesh produces will perish and fade away bringing forth a final reaping.
This type of sowing brings corruption, and when a person’s virtue is gone, his soul is debased and corrupt. No virtue will linger and live on the plains of ruin. In sowing to the flesh everything is debased and corrupt, and the harvest of seeds sown brings degradation and defilement. Lust when it is conceived bring forth sin, and sin when it is finished brings forth death.
However he that sows to the Spirit, that is, the one who follows the leadings and cultivates the fruit which the Holy Spirit produces will have a harvest that is pleasing to the Lord. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance against such there is no law.
So, with the New Year before us what will be our goals as we forge forward sowing seeds for the sake of Kingdom of God? There is a hurting world out there waiting for someone to show forth the love of God. But most Christians are so caught up in their circle of friends and activities; they have no time to move beyond their comfort zone sharing the love of God.
When sowing seed we must move outside self and the wall of the church; our focus must be to those who have not heard the gospel. No man should hear the gospel twice, until all men have heard it once.
I challenge you to find the seed that God has placed within you and move out of your comfort zone sharing with someone, believing in faith that God will produce within you a harvest that will overflow.
If you keep the seed within the pod there will be no harvest, it must be released and planted in the life of someone or something to bring forth its potential. “He that goes forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
“Cast your bread upon the water; for thou shalt find it after many days.” Take that which God has placed in your trust and use it for the glory of the Father, knowing by faith it will produce a harvest in your life and the lives of those you have sown into.
