If the reaping and the sowing were truly fair for all today, which would you prefer, justice for all or do you prefer grace & mercy for all? Hmm…
There are certain things in life that one can predict and there are other times that situations in life simply happen. The simplistic nature of the discovery or revelation is not happenstance to God. He is sovereign and nothing that happens in this life escapes His knowledge. Man has studied variant phenomenon to arrive at theories relative to cause and effect and coined as laws. For example, some of these principles are known as Laws of Physics, Laws of Nature, Theories of Relativity, Laws of Gravity, even the old adage that if something can go wrong, it will… Murphy’s Law. Even with these systematic structured physical and/or natural studies of behavior, man had to observe an organized level of experiments before considering it science. However, with God’s word, we can take it at face value, no further proof is needed, we must take Him at His word.
With that, if the latter is true… taking God’s word as the truth, then we should respond as such. There are several verses in the bible that reflect the law/principle of ‘reaping and sowing’. It has been tried and is true. Galatians 6:7-10 reads, “7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 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. 9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
The principle: do not fool ourselves to believe that God does not see the motives of our hearts when we sow seeds, God will not be mocked. If we sow fleshly seeds that appears to be seeds sown to the Spirit, only God can assess justly. Man can only see and attempt to assess the outside actions with incomplete knowledge and tainted biases. Man has the potential to see the beautiful blessings which God graciously gives. Even in that, how is man to know that all ‘good fortune’ comes from God? Man doesn’t know. Man can try to assess others’ blessings or demise, in the case of sowing, for that matter reaping as well. If we are spending that much energy, time, and passion in other people’s business that would mean that we are not putting as much time needed with God to make sure that our own sowing is in the Spirit. After all, we do want a bountiful harvest. “6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good word, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8.
In a nutshell, the law of reaping and sowing is all about the heart. Sowing with a good and cheerful heart takes work. The amount of time and effort it takes to respond to other people’s actions in grace does not leave time to passionately asses the dealings of others’ blessings or demise. We can only be responsible for our own actions and our own responses. However, we can spur others to love and good works, but we can’t make people do right. The harvest from good seeds will produce eternal rewards, but also produce a rewarding and abundant life on earth/partial reaping. The beauty of reaping is that God is ‘just’ (right) in His rewards, yet gracious. We never get exactly what we deserve (punishment/discipline) and always get more than we deserve (rewards/blessings). Since we know this to be true, trust God and do not grow weary and faint in doing what is right and good. God will bless us with a harvest according to His will and the purpose will always be for the kingdom and His glory.
Finally, let us look for opportunities while we still have sound minds and capabilities. Keep doing good to all of mankind, especially to our brother’s and sister’s in Christ. Leave the reaping to God and be mindful of our own personal sowing. God is so good, “8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.9 He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever.10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us,” Psalm 103:8-12.
Heavenly Father, thank you for never giving me the discipline that is according to my times of wickedness and fleshly seeds. Thank you for the grace that is so amazing day after day. Forgive me for when I have taken for granted your grace and rebelled against that which I know to be right and times in my ignorance failed to tread with your wisdom and guidance, but that of compromise and weakness. I am your daughter and you are my God. Thank you, Jesus for opening the door for me to have a relationship to your Father. Now God, help me not grow weary in well doing and to press and not faint as I wait for the harvest. Help me look not to what kind of harvest, but trust that it will a gracious and right one. You are so good to me in your sovereignty. Thank you for hearing my prayer, in Jesus’ majestic name, I do pray and believe. Amen!
The journey flows…
Thy Kingdom Come Ministry 