You Reap What you Sow, So Sow to Grow.

Mark reminds us that you reap what you sow. This is particularly important for Christians seeking to live effectively for the Lord.

You Reap What You Sow Says Hosea

In the prophetic book of Hosea we read: Hosea 10:12

Sow for yourselves righteousness…

Hosea 10:12

We sometimes hear people say,

“We reap what we sow.” 

Galatians 6:8

Have you heard this before? It’s taken from the Bible and found in the book of Galatians written by the Apostle Paul.

Another familiar saying is

What goes around comes around.

This thought, that there are affects to our actions, is an undeniable truth. Paul wrote this to the Galatians as a warning to be careful in their conduct.

Seed sowing has only one intent; to grow. What we sow, how we sow and why we sow makes an impact in our lives and with everyone we rub shoulders with every day.

We Are All Sowing Seed

The industrial revolution in the 19^th century changed our societies from rural to urban, and as a result people’s way of living converted from agriculture to industry. Farms were abandoned and cities grew. Not too many people see themselves as “farmers” today, either knowingly or unknowingly, sowing and reaping is constant for everyone.

When you see it from a spiritual aspect, as Christians, farming is an important and continuous part of our day-to-day lives. We are all sowing seed, plowing fields, and reaping a harvest with the Lord, and others.

Hosea said,

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you. You have plowed wickedness; you have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies…

Hosea 10:12-13

When the Lord rebuked Israel through the prophet Hosea; He pointed out their sinful tendencies through the allegory of farming. He was telling them, “There is a right and a wrong way to farm your relationship with me, and how you choose will dictate the consequences.”

Seed Reproduces Its Own Kind

The key fact in farming is a seed can only produce its kind. For example, tomato seeds only grow tomatoes.  This is extremely basic, but in our lives, we can easily ignore this principle.

God corrects Israel by pointing out that what they need to sow is righteousness to receive blessing. Obviously, they were not planting it because He further tells them that what they were reaping was wickedness. The principle applies; seeds of right choices grow good results and seeds of wicked intentions grow wicked outcomes.

How we live our lives every day says a lot about the relationship seeds we sow in the Lord and in those around us.

Do you spend quality time with God? Are we attentive to Him in prayer, service, Bible reading and meditation? Are you giving Him your time and focus? Are the seeds you sow with Him intended for eternity?

In Galatians, Paul says,

For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Galatians 6:8

The writer of Proverbs says,

A troublemaker plants seeds of strife…

Proverbs 16:28

and,

…in whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, who always sows discord.

Proverbs 6:14

What Do You Sow in Those Around You?

The people in your life with whom you are in contact; what do you intend to sow when you are with them? Are your words and attitude good with kindness? Or do you express a foul, negative behavior? We tend to forget that what we say, our inclinations, and the way we treat people is a catalyst for either building up or tearing others down.

A good farmer knows every seed is different. Every different seed type requires attention as to how it should be planted. Some seed types are scattered, others are put in the ground one by one. Many types need to be aligned in rows and there are those that need to be bedded in mounds of soil. There are key factors to consider in helping that seed succeed in growth, soil type, seed depth, space between and the amount of required moisture.

Seeds Planted for Positive Outcomes

When we plant a garden in the right way, and tend to it faithfully, we expect a positive outcome; seeds growing into strong healthy plants with an abundance of fruitfulness. When we plant haphazardly or in an uncaring manner should we expect the same results as doing it right?

Sadly, many times, we ignore these laws of farming and wonder why our relationship with the Lord and others is not productive. Discernment is an important part of agriculture and an important part of our lives if we want a good outcome. Much of the time this involves self-control and thinking of God and others before thinking of yourself. Being careful and disciplined. Having a responsive and not reactive output in situations. A Spirit filled life will produce spiritual fruit, as Paul taught the Galatians in chapter five:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 5:22-26

This is practically expressed in

..if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 3:16-18

Good Seed Sowing Leads to Good Farming

Being perceptive of seed type and how it is to be sown is good farming.

Another natural law in farming is you reap more than you sow. Therefore, we sow to get more out of the field than what we put into it. How different would our life be if we applied this rule in our relationship with the Lord and others? Our time with the Lord is an investment that is not only beneficial in this life, but on into eternity. Similarly, committing time in fellowship with other believers also extends past this life, as we share eternity together.

Too often we live in the moment, not considering the future but having foresight is what keeps us accountable.  If there is any chance that what I do now will hurt or offend, then I must keep myself in check and consider choosing to respond in a manner that will have a peaceful and positive outcome.  Do we sow with good intentions, sensitive to how our influence will affect others?

We sow to grow, in hope, like Paul describes to the Corinthians

..the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.

1 Corinthians 9:10

Glean From the Lord

The best farming we can do as believers is glean from the Lord Himself every day.  Only by spending time with Him in prayer, reading with meditation upon the scriptures, and looking for the leading of the Holy Spirit will we be able to successfully sow seeds of righteousness, expecting a harvest that will be favorable with God and man. The God of all goodness and love is the source we must go to, with a heart willing to be changed into His character and likeness. Good fruit should be our goal and to reach that we need God’s divine wisdom, knowledge, understanding.

Let’s look to the Lord in what we sow, how we sow and why we sow, every day.

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:15-17

Is it true that you reap what you sow? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.