Sowing What You Reap

By Benjamin H. Liles

          I'm not real sure if I wrote about this topic in a while, but it needs to be said again. Sowing specific types of seed towards others comes back to you in the end. Paul tells the church in Galatia, "Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return" (Galatians 6:7). A lot of people talk about karma, but it's not that when it comes from the Lord on high.

          The whole deal with karma is a reference, which is, "he spiritual principle of cause and effect where intent and actions of an individual (cause) influence the future of that individual (effect)." But I hugely digress here. The point is God's will cannot and will not be super-imposed on people. Rather, the way God says it and has it designed is that what you do to others comes back on you. The world has taken what is godly and meant to be used for us to give thanks and glorify God, to bring the focus on ourselves, and not on Him.

          With that said, we're also told, even by Job, "As I have observed, those who plow iniquity, and those who sow trouble, reap the same. Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him like a man?" (Job 4:8, 13:9). What this means to us is that as God knows the intents and purposes of our hearts, the ends will justify the means. Those who sow wickedness will reap it in one form or another. Doing so in this life is a declaration of your forfeiture or rather, justifiable reward, of what your beliefs are.

          Here's a comparison/contrast of that for you. Before I gave my life to Christ I was selfish, did things on my own steam, doing all I could to do things to benefit myself; sometimes not completely against my wife. However, after I came to Christ, with all of my sins before then being wiped out, I still stand -- to a degree -- of reaping what I had once sown. Just because I came to Christ doesn't mean that there's not some form of correction being held over for me, as that's still going to play out. What it does mean, though, is my eternal destination has changed. It's why I love a lot of what Paul says to the churches.

          Paul writes, under the influence of the Spirit of God, "Don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God's kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or anyone practicing homosexuality; Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously" (1 Corinthians 6:9; 2 Corinthians 9:6).

          This then is what we can take away on the whole "Reap what you Sow" discourse: when you sow seed to the effect of doing something on your own, you will reap the rewards dictating that level of selfishness. At the same time, though, when you come to Jesus Christ asking Him to be your Lord and Savior, yes you may still reap those past rewards, but your past sins are blotted out. What you sow from now on shows where your heart, your faith lay. That's why I always put stock and faith in this verse: "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:20).

          I'm writing this with the intent and the heart for God who saves us from His wrath, from the consequences of sin and death. We all have an ability to make a final choice on where we desire to spend eternity. I am of the heart and mind that God desires of me to do well for my better man, to uplift the Lord, showing others what life with Him is all about. For me it's about doing right, not because I feel I have to, but because I love God with my whole being; and the second is like the first, to love others as myself. It means I sacrifice myself, my intents and purposes to better others; and not doing things to exalt myself. God will do that if He so desires. I pray this finds you all well in Jesus Christ. Amen.