You Will Reap What You Sow
Galatians 6:7-10
A story is told of two Scotchmen who emigrated to California. They wanted to have in their new home some reminder of their homeland. One took with him a thistle, the national emblem. The other took a swarm of honeybees. Years passed by. Fields for a long distance are cursed with the thistle, which the farmer cannot get rid of. But the forests and fields are laden with the sweetness of honey. Little did those two men think of what would grow out of their selections, either for good or for evil.The seemingly insignificant acts of man mean much to future generations.
Each choice that you make brings with it a consequence. If you make wise, God honoring choices then you will experience positive consequences. If you make sinful, disobedient choices then you will experience negative consequences. The way our selected text puts it... YOU WILL REAP WHAT YOU SOW! - ...whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:7-8)
Sowing and Reaping has both positive and negative connotations.
If you sow good things, you will reap good things!
If you sow honesty, you will reap trust.
If you sow goodness, you will reap friends.
If you sow humility, you will reap greatness.
If you sow perseverance, you will reap victory.
If you sow consideration, you will reap harmony.
If you sow hard work, you will reap success.
If you sow forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation.
If you sow openness, you will reap intimacy.
If you sow patience, you will reap improvements.
If you sow faith, you will reap miracles.
If you sow to the Spirit, you will reap life everlasting
On the other hand, if you sow bad things, you will reap bad things.
If you sow dishonesty, you will reap distrust.
If you sow selfishness, you will reap loneliness.
If you sow pride, you will reap destruction.
If you sow jealousy, you will reap trouble.
If you sow laziness, you will reap stagnation.
If you sow bitterness, you will reap isolation.
If you sow greed, you will reap loss.
If you sow gossip, you will reap enemies.
If you sow worries, you will reap wrinkles.
If you sow sin, you will reap guilt. (CONSEQUENCES)
If you sow to the flesh, you will reap corruption
(Source: http://keyisinspiration.wordpress.com/2013/12/14/quote-of-the-day/)
I submit to you that not only do you reap what you sow, YOU WILL REAP MORE THAN YOU SOW! - Take for instance a farmer who plants a kernel of corn. That one kernel has the potential to produce a stalk with several ears that contain many kernels of corn. If the stalk produces 2 ears of Corn that would be approximately 1600 kernels.
With that in mind... it is imperative that we sow the RIGHT SEEDS! I would like to look to these verses this evening and preach on this thought "You Will Reap What You Sow! Let's begin by looking at:
I. The Harvest - v7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
We begin with an important warning... When you live as if your rebellion against God has no consequences you acting in a very foolish manner. Paul says that you cannot mock the justice of God. No one will ever disobey God’s commands and escape divine punishment
He goes on to say "for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."The harvest must be the focus of your mind from the beginning.
Take the local farmer for example: Before the soil is prepared... Before the seed is planted... Before the fields are worked ... he has in mind what it is he needs to harvest. A certain time of year he prepares for a harvest of corn. Another time of year he prepares for a soy bean crop. He plants what he needs and he reaps what he plants.
Friends, we must have our eyes on the harvest. You have heard about those people who "spend their time sowing their wild oats and then pray for crop failure" - Friend, it doesn't work that way!
One of my favorite movies is "Secondhand Lions" with Robert Duvall and Michael Cain. They were two men who had lived lives of danger and adventure. They reached a certain age so they decided they would settle down and do "what old retired folks do". So they planted a garden. They had 12 to 16 rows planted and were expecting green beans, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, lettuce and more. They worked that garden for weeks and one day they noticed that every row was corn. The traveling salesman pulled one over on them!
Friend, if you plant corn you are not going to get a watermelon... YOU ARE GOING TO GET CORN!! And if you sow seeds of evil you are not going to reap good! If you sow seeds of the flesh you are not going to reap the fruits of the Spirit! -------- Let's move a little further and see:
II. The Seed v8
A. The Flesh - v8a For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;
Here is that word again... flesh! Our old sinful nature. The flesh is the natural part of us that wants to live life on our own terms. Even though the believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit the flesh still puts up a fight. When we sow to the flesh we are yielding to its sinful desires. We are failing to "walk in the Spirit" and instead we are fulfilling the lists of the flesh.
John R. Stott has written, "Every time we allow our mind to harbor a grudge, nurse a grievance, entertain an impure fancy, wallow in self-pity, we are sowing to the flesh. Every time we linger in bad company whose insidious influence we know we cannot resist, every time we lie in bed when we ought to be up and praying, every time we read pornographic literature, every time we take a risk that strains our self-control we are sowing, sowing, sowing, to the flesh" [The Message of Galatians. London: Inter-Varsity, 1968, p. 170].
We are told that "when we sow to the flesh we will reap corruption". - Corruption speaks of decay, ruin, and destruction. Over time, rebellion against God destroys a person, just as a fatal disease slowly takes a life. Are you sowing seeds of the flesh? Maybe you just need to get saved and Jesus take full control of your life. Or maybe you would say "I know that I am saved preacher but if I am honest, I have sown some seeds of corruption" you need to return to the Lord today and get a new bag of seeds!
As I mentioned earlier, this whole sowing and reaping thing isn't all bad. There is a positive side as well. There is another seed that can be sown, it is the seed of:
B. The Spirit - v8b but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
To sow to the Spirit means to do things that please the Lord. When we do this it will continually increase the Spirit's influence in your life. Simply put. sowing to the Spirit means allowing the Holy Spirit to have His way. (Notice what John Macarthur says in his NT. commentary on Galatians)
"To sow to the Spirit" is the same as to "walk by the Spirit" (5:16)
"To sow to the Spirit" is the same as to "be led by the Spirit" (5:18)
"To sow to the Spirit" is the same as to be "filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18).
"To sow to the Spirit" is the same as "abiding in Christ" (John 15:7)
"To sow to the Spirit" is the same as "continuing in Christ's Word" (John 8:31).
"To sow to the Spirit" is the same as "walking in Christ" (Col. 2:6)
"To sow to the Spirit" is the same as "setting one’s "mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth" (Col3:2).
"To sow to the Spirit" is the same as "giving one’s body as "a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God," and not being "conformed to this world, but [being] transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Rom. 12:1–2)." [MacArthur, NT Com. Gal. ]
We are told that when we do sow to the Sprit that we will reap everlasting life. Everlasting life speaks of eternity. Keep in mind, our eternal life doesn't begin after we die, it begins at salvation. By sowing the seeds of the Spirit we will also enhance the quality of our life here and now. Another great benefit of sowing to the Spirit is that you will have an impact on the Kingdom of Christ. Consider:
Many years ago, ill health compelled the two missionaries stationed at Efulan to return to America, leaving but six believers, for the station had only been open a short time. They dared not hope they would find any Christians on their return two years later, for how could six recent converts stand alone in an African village? They found, however, that the small group had met several times every week for prayer and Bible study and had witnessed so faithfully for Christ that all the neighboring villages knew that they were "Jesus men." Is it any wonder, then, that the church grew into a great congregation and that, on the 25th anniversary of its organization, 7000 people assembled for a communion service in which the sacrament was celebrated by three African ministers—the bread and wine distributed by 24 native elders?
We have examined the harvest, and the seeds now lets see a little bit about:
III. The Laborer v9
This refers to the one who is sowing the seeds. Specifically the seeds of the Spirit. The Laborer Must Endure - v9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
If you continue to sow to the Spirit there will be an eventual reward. There are times when the work is difficult! There are times when we get weary! There are times when we want to quit! But we must follow the directive given in 1 Corinthians 15:58 “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord”
This is no guarantee that you will have all that you want in this life. It is no promise of material possessions.- Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6:19 ¶Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
You may never even get any type of recognition down here.It is no guarantee that you will not face danger, trouble or trials.
*Paul was faithful in his labor for the Lord and he was beheaded
*Peter was faithful in his labor for the Lord and he was crucified upside down
*James was faithful in his labor for the Lord and he was beheaded
*John the Baptist was faithful in his labor for the Lord and he was beheaded
*John the Apostle was faithful in his labor for the Lord and he was exiled to the isle of Patmos.
*The remainder of the Apostles were faithful in their labor and they all died as a result.
- There are people all over this world who:
- Faithfully read their bible
- They pray diligently
- They are devoted to the Church
- They give back to the Lord
- They witness to the Lost
- They seek to restore the fallen Christian
The world may not know their name but they are sowing seeds of the Spirit! There are many people in this very assembly who fit that description. And if you are honest, there are times when you grow weary! Remember what Paul says here in verse 9 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." - Look also at - Psalms 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Oh, scatter seeds of loving deeds
Along the fertile field;
For grain will grow from what you sow,
And fruitful harvest yield.
Though sown in tears through weary years,
The seed will surely live;
Though great the cost it is not lost,
For God will fruitage give.
The harvest-home of God will come:
And after toil and care,
With joy untold your sheaves of gold
Will all be garnered there.
—By Sonny Captain Benibo, native missionary of Nigeria, West Africa.
Like the old hymn says "Press On, It Won't Be Very Long"... Keep working the fields my friends, it will be worth it!
We have seen the Harvest, the Seeds, and the Laborer. Finally I would like to examine:
IV. The Season - v10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
When it comes to a harvest, there are certain times of the year that you harvest certain types of crops. In Alabama you don't plant corn expecting to harvest it in December. But when the time does come to prepare for a harvest of corn you will see activity at the local farm 7 days a week until the job is done. When it is time to prepare the soil there will be tractors moving all over the place. When it is time to plant the seed there will be people in the field... When it comes time to work the fields there will be people out there doing just that. When it comes time to bring in the harvest there will be people working until the harvest is complete.
NOW IS THE SEASON FOR US TO SOW TO THE SPIRIT! Notice that Paul uses the word "Opportunity”. This speaks of a distinct, fixed time period, rather than occasional moments. Each and every day of our life we are blessed with the opportunity to sow to the Spirit. We can and should serve others in Christ’s name. We must seize each and every opportunity to do good! You cannot solve all of the problems of the world, But you can help meet the needs that you see on a daily basis!
Every day is an opportunity for you to sow seeds. In fact you are sowing seeds each and every day! The question is are they seeds of the flesh, or seeds of the Spirit? Always remember, YOU WILL REAP WHAT YOU SOW!
Would you like to SOW BETTER SEED? Few prayers composed by the hearts of men have equaled that of Francis of Assisi:
Lord, Make me an instrument of Thy 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.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much
Seek to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
