Reaping What You Sow

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)

Our actions have consequences. If you over eat, you will become fat. If you spend more than you make, you will be in debt. If you are a drunkard, your liver will be permanently damaged.

This is one of the final thoughts Paul leaves us with as he is closing the letter to the Galatians. He continues to remind us that we can sow in the flesh or we can sow in the Spirit. 

"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." (v. 8)

And for many, the instant return for what we sow seems to negate the consequences of our actions later on down the road. For example, I used to smoke cigarettes. I knew cigarettes were terrible for my health and I knew of several studies that empirically proved 'cigarettes cause lung cancer'. But in the moment of deciding should I smoke or not smoke the fear of lung cancer and degraded health was swept away by the exhilarating high I felt now by smoking.

The same can be said about drinking. We know it is a destructive habit yet we participate in it anyway ignoring the future consequences of our actions: I may not come home to my wife and children tonight; I may become a violent alcoholic; I may become physically addicted and destroy my body. 

But this is not an message about the dangers of smoking and drinking. This can be applied to anything: Eating, sleeping, working, gambling, studying, shopping, and the list goes on.

We will reap tomorrow what we sow today. To be more inline with the context Paul is speaking of, he intends for us to treat each other with great love, respect, honor, and good works. To do these things is to walk in the Spirit as we are filled with the Spirit. Then, in the future, we will reap the Spiritual fruit of our good works today.

But if we fight against each other, hating even our brothers and sisters in Christ, treating them with great indignity, and sowing evil works... then we must know - God is not mocked. We will reap of the same things we sow.

So what then? How should we live? Well, the Scripture is given to us for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). Here is what it teaches us:

"9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:9-10)

The labor of good works through faith in Jesus Christ is a perpetual work. We are instructed to never cease from them nor to find them too weary. But sometimes we can live in the impression that our works are meaningless. Many pastors and Bible teachers struggle with this when do not see change in the lives of those they teach. But it is not limited to clergy. You may find that you don't want to love your neighbor. Maybe they just annoy you too much that you would rather not serve them in good works. We are taught to not faint in our labor, "for in due season we shall reap".

We are also taught to take advantage of every opportunity to serve others with good works. However, how often we ignore those poor and homeless beggars on the subway and on the streets. How often we justify in our hearts and minds that we are not responsible for their plight. How often we tell our selves that they are simply faking. But we are not justified. We are to use every opportunity given unto us to serve others with good works. So the next time you have money in your pocket, wallet, purse, sock, or shoe... help the poor beggar. Don't think about it, just do it. God has given you to them for an opportunity to serve. Of course, this extends well beyond just beggars, so always be mindful of how you can serve.

And thirdly, we are taught to serve those who are of Jesus Christ even more honorably. It's not that we should save our best works for our brothers and sisters in Christ, but rather we should never ever NOT serve them with good works. To bring division and evil into the house of God is an egregious sin! Jesus even taught us that the world would know that we are his by the love that we show to one another (John 13:35).

What will you do today?