Understanding the Principle of Sowing and Reaping.
Study Text: Galatians 6: 7 - 10
Introduction:
- The Lord gives principles in Scripture to serve as warnings and as an encouragement.
- There is a war in every Christian between the desires of the flesh and the desires of the Spirit.
- This war between what the flesh desires and what the Spirit desires is going on in every genuine believer and we can wonder, what can I do to see more of the fruit of the Spirit and less of the flesh in my life?
- Sowing and reaping are agricultural terms. Farmers and gardeners throughout history have depended on this principle to be true in the natural realm and God’s word says that what is true in agriculture is true in life as well.
- What a person sows in life they will eventually reap – not because God does something extraordinary to make that happen, but because it is a principle that He has established and no one can ever change it.
- We shall discuss this topic under three subheadings:
1. The Seed and the Principles of Sowing and Reaping.
2. The Soil and the Patterns of Sowing and Reaping.
3. The Sower and the Products of Sowing and Reaping.
1. The Seed and the Principles of Sowing and Reaping:
- Every farmer understands the meaning of this principle: We reap what we sow, more than we sow, and later than we sow. Let’s look at each part of the principle to make sure we understand its full implications.
1. The principle applies to everyone, both Christians and non-Christians.
- This principle is irrevocable; there is no escape, either for the believer or for the unbeliever. It is a law of life.
- Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked.” Herein lies the root cause of the careless and indulgent lifestyle of many people. They are deceived. They either do not believe the truth, or they think they will somehow be the exceptions to God’s laws.
2. We reap what we sow.
- The fact that we reap what we sow is good news for those who sow good seeds, but a frightening thought for those currently involved in ungodly activities or mistreatment of others in order to climb the ladder of success.
- We cannot sow disobedience to God and expect to reap His blessing. What we sow, we reap. Let us not deceive ourselves: We will reap the harvest of our lives.
- If we want to see changes in our lives, we cannot start by trying to reap a different harvest – we need to start by sowing a different seed.
- Sometimes we get focused on trying to get a different harvest without recognizing we need to sow differently. We sow what we’ve been sowing but somehow we hope we will reap a different harvest.
3. We reap more than we sow.
- Most sowing produces more than what was sown – one seed is multiplied into many. Sow one orange seed and get a tree that produces many oranges and each orange has many seeds in it.
- Why do farmers plant their seed? Because they expect to harvest a great deal more than they sow.
- A single seed that sprouts can yield dozens, scores, even hundreds of seeds. It is the same way with both sin and righteousness, a small decision to do either good or bad reaps a much bigger crop, for either joy or sorrow.
4. We reap later than we sow.
- Some are deceived because their present seed does not appear to be producing an immediate crop. So they continue down their course, mistakenly believing that there will never be a harvest.
- But unlike the crops of the field, which get harvested at approximately the same time each year, there is no regular timetable for the harvest of life.
- Some crops we reap quickly; others take a long time. But do not be deceived, their season will come. And by going the second mile now and giving more than is required, we will reap rich dividends later.
- The seed may represent many things in our lives. These include: our time, our money, our attitudes, our habits, our behaviour and characters, and our kindness or wickedness to others.
2. The Soil and the Patterns of Sowing and Reaping:
- The scripture identified two patterns of sowing and two categories of the soil. These are sowing to the Spirit and sowing to the flesh.
- There are many factors that determine or clearly indicate our patterns of sowing:
1. The quality of your seed.
- Only viable seeds can produce good yield. You need to examine critically your seeds whether they are of good quality or not.
2. The quantity of your seed.
- Your yield will depend on the volume of your sowing. How many areas are covered. The Bible talks about sowing sparingly and sowing bountifully.
3. The situation with your soil.
- When a good seed is planted in a wrong soil, or a bad seed planted in a good soil, a favourable result cannot be obtained.
- We need to examine in the light of the word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, what constitute a good or bad soil, before planting our soil, the outcomes might still be affected by the care given to the crop by the Sower. Such as weeding, watering, manuring, etc.
- We need to follow-up on our good seed planted on good soil. This may include our prayers and taking some positive steps as we may be guided by the Holy Spirit.
4. The efforts of the Sower.
- Even after planting good seeds on a good soil, We need to follow-up on our good seed planted on good soil.
- This may include our prayers and taking some positive steps as we may be guided by the Holy Spirit.
3. The Sower and the Products of Sowing and Reaping:
- In every believer, the flesh works contrary to the Spirit, and the only way of victory over the flesh is the deliberate yielding to the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5: 16.
- Sowing to the flesh constitute everything we do:
1. That is not pleasing to God or that is a disobedience to His words.
2. That is meant for the gratification and building up of the flesh or canal things.
3. That makes us to be rich towards ourselves, but becoming poor towards God. Colossians 3: 1 - 3.
4. That comes out of selfish interest, or with a selfish motive, and that gives glory to man rather than God.
5. That is not for the blessings of others according to the will of God, but promotes hatred, bitterness or wickedness against others.
- The result of sowing to the flesh is the harvest of corruption. This means, nothing relevant in the kingdom of God could be achieved, and all eternal blessings and inheritances would be forfeited.
- It is similar to fruitless efforts and labouring in vain. The deception here is that there may be many physical and natural things to show good success, but the reality will come to play on the day of reckoning.
Conclusion:
- God is a righteous judge, He will truly reward everyone according to his works here on earth.
- What type of harvest are you envisaging at the end? Focus on the harvest and be motivated to change your pattern of sowing now.
- If we are willing, God is able to make all grace abound towards you, and to strengthen you in all areas of your weaknesses.
- Sow to the Spirit and trust Lord to bring new fruit and new good – fruit that leads to eternal life.
