The Principle of Sowing and Reaping

By Pastor Ken Foreman

Text: Galatians 6:7-10

Basically, the law of sowing and reaping is reciprocation. See Romans 15:27; I Corinthians 9:11; II Corinthians 8:14; and Galatians 6:6. It was instituted in Creation - "whose seed is in itself." Proverbs 11:18 tells us sowing "righteousness" means "a sure reward." Galatians 6:8 says, "sow to the flesh - reap corruption." The world says, "What goes around comes around" and talks about "yin and yang." Fruit bears witness to the kind of seed sown.

There is another law involved in sowing and reaping - seed reproduces itself abundantly. A single kernal of corn yields a plant on which there may be three or four ears of corn. Each ear may contain hundreds of kernals - a thousand-fold return on the initial planting. What kind of harvest you reap depends upon the kind of seed you sow.

Sowing to the flesh uses bad seed and brings a crop of far-reaching corruption. This list speaks for itself; adultery, fornication, lust, rape, abuse, gossip, false accusations, envy, jealousy, selfishness, greed, pride, impatience, covetousness, theft, disobedience, rebellion, anger, wrath, hatred, revenge, murder, violence, sedition, treachery, and betrayal.

Sowing to the Spirit also brings forth a crop. The fruit resulting from good seed being sown is far-reaching - and affects many other lives for good. Here's a starter list; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, meekness, kindness, gentleness, faith, temperance, mercy, forgiveness, prayer, Bible reading and study, repentance, giving, hope, a holy lifestyle, fellowship with the believers, witnessing, peace-making, godly wisdom, contentment and grace sufficient for every need. Note that the purpose of fruit is to enhance the prospect of the seed!

Hosea 10:12 declares that if we sow in righteousness, we will reap mercy. Proverbs 18:24 says, if you want friends, you must show yourself friendly. According to I Corinthians 3:4, in "due season - God gives the increase." Wishing and hoping won't do. Planting is our part - life and growth is God's part!

Turnips con't come up all by themselves. Someone has to be a seed planter! See Psalm 126:5. Taking care of the seed includes...

• Preparing the Soil - "Break up the fallow ground."
• Watering the Soil - "Sow in tears, reap in joy."
• Weeding the Soil - Plucking out the weeds that would choke the good seed.

It takes time! Be patient! (See James 5:7.) "Due season" is when God says so.

Sow what you want to reap! - in quantity, (II Corinthians 9:6) and in quality (Matthew 13:24, 37-38).