Sowing and Reaping

August 31

Ecclesiastes 3-5

Psalm 99:6-9

Proverbs 21:20-21

Galatians 6

Sowing and Reaping

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.  So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”  Galatians 6:7-10 LSB

This passage in Galatians goes along well with our reading in Ecclesiastes.  Sowing and reaping is a steadfast principle that can be relied on like gravity.  When we plant corn seeds, we are not going to reap green beans.  When we plant green bean seeds, we are not going to reap watermelons.  Farms rely on the predictability of sowing and reaping.  The principle is just as certain when we apply it to other areas of our lives.  If we treat people with hate and disrespect, they are not going to respond with love and kindness.  If we lie to people, they are not going to trust us.  If we cheat in our dealings with people, they are not going to do business with us anymore.  If, however, we treat people with love and respect, they will generally treat us that way.  We can be assured that even if they do not respond accordingly, our actions will please God and we will be rewarded by Him.  If we are honest and upright in our relationships with others, they will respect us and be more likely to treat us fairly.  As we discussed yesterday, if we spend our time and energy storing up treasures in heaven, we will reap an eternal reward that is worth far more than any reward we could obtain on earthly pursuits. 

Paul goes on to encourage us not to lose heart.  Sometimes it is difficult to keep serving others and doing the right thing when we are not appreciated or treated well.  It is hard to keep going when things get tough, but Paul is reminding us that we will reap the benefits if we keep pushing on.  God sees our efforts.  We will reap the harvest of what we have sown, if not now, one day in heaven.  He encouraged us to do good to everyone, even those who don’t do good to us.  Go the extra mile, put forth the effort, inconvenience yourself to serve others.  He also tells us that we should especially treat fellow believers well.  God wants us to take care of each other.  He wants us to love our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, encourage them and help them in any way we can.  Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”  God designed us for community so that we would be there for each other.  God knows the challenges and difficulties of this life and He provided us with people around us to help us get through.  He also puts people in our lives that we can help.  It is as beneficial for us to help others as it is for us to be helped by others.  What are you sowing?