Where Do We Reap and Where Do We Sow?
By Aaron D'Anthony Brown
“Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” (Galatians 6P:7-9)
First comes the plant, then comes the harvest.
One of the most frustrating parts about being a Christian is watching others be applauded for wrongdoing while we feel ignored for doing good. The psalmist Asaph once said, “But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray. For I envied the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalm 73:2-3). Sometimes we feel this at work, in the classroom, or even on the dating scene.
If we’re good people, why aren’t we recognized? Are we not as good as we think? Maybe, and that’s always something to consider, though the issue could be a matter of perspective. Are we seeking the admiration of others and some sort of prize, or are we content with having God’s approval?
Sowing and reaping are not always as simple as two plus two. Sometimes we get what we deserve, sometimes not. One thing’s for certain, however, “we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” That could be tomorrow, years down the road, or in the next life.
As Christians, we want to ensure that what we reap is good. But what exactly are sowing and reaping? In the spiritual context, sowing is to do something, and reaping is to receive the consequence of that action. Think cause and effect. Christians are tasked with sowing and reaping fruits of the Spirit: kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and more (Galatians 5:22-23).
Therefore, we sow through every word and every deed every single day. Scripture speaks to believers, though, everyone participates in sowing and reaping, whether we are Christian or not, and whether we believe in God or not.
The question is, what are we sowing, and what are we reaping? This is something to consider in all areas of our lives and in all of our relationships. Scripture draws a contrast between sowing to the flesh and sowing to the Spirit. Serving the flesh is sinful, but serving the Spirit is virtuous.
This brings us back to an earlier question - are we seeking the admiration of others and some sort of prize, or are we content with having God’s approval? Ideally, Christians sow because of a desire to serve God and others, not for selfish vainglory. We find contentment in sowing regardless of what acknowledgment we receive. By sowing to the Spirit, we perform good deeds with the hope of receiving positive results.
This idea of sowing and reaping is especially important because Jesus commands us to abide in Him. He calls Himself the vine, and we are the vine’s branches. We reveal our faith when we produce fruit (John 15:1-6). The only way to produce fruit is to sow. Do we always get what we deserve? No.
We may think we want the answer to be always, but when we consider ourselves flawed and sinful, we likely reconsider. If we always got what we deserved surely, there would be plenty of good things that resulted from our good deeds, but there would also be plenty of consequences that result from our daily sins.
That’s why God commands us to avoid sin and do good things. Good deeds produce good fruit. Not always immediately. Not always in the way that we expect. Not always for our own enjoyment, but blessings do result from following Christ. In due season, we reap what we sow.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
The ways by which we sow goodness are not always obvious. Here are some places to start:
- Converse with a Stranger
- Compliment Someone
- Practice Humility
- Acts of Service
- Volunteering
- Donations
- Practice Obedience
- Writing a Letter
- Visit a Friend
- Support an Artist
- Physical Affirmation
- Practice Patience
If you find yourself in a tough predicament and tire of doing good, remember God’s Word. “Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.”
We don’t always recognize the reaping, nor do we always see the fruit of our labor on this side of life, but there is always a result, for better or for worse. Sometimes the wicked do prosper, but they do so in this life. Nonetheless, as believers, we’re not called to envy others nor live our lives like nonbelievers. God has set our duties before us and has told us what we’re to do.
He promises to bless us as a result. Whatever good you’re sowing, no matter the difficulty, you will reap if you don’t give up.
Further Reading (and Listening):
Sources:
SimplyBible.com, 'Sowing and Reaping'
Photo credit: ©Playbackmedia/Sparrowstock
Get in touch with him at aarondanthony.com and check out his debut short story anthology Honey Dreams on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
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Related Resource: How Habit Stacking Will Help You Discipline Your Mind, Body, & Spirit
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