You Reap What You Sow

Presented, September 03, 2006 pm

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

Galatians 6:7-9

We have all heard the expression before, “You reap what you sow.” And as Christians we know that it is an expression that is found in the Bible. Tonight we want to talk a little about sowing and reaping.

I. It is a universal principal that has always been true

a. When God created the world – He set that law in motion.
Everything produced after its kind – Genesis 1:11, 21, 24, etc. Both plant and animal alike.
This is even true of the laws of nature that He set in motion – in whatever we do, we must consider these laws. We can count on science because of the surety of these laws.

b. It is true not only in the physical world – but in the spiritual world as well. That is what the Bible is about.
- Because man sinned, we all live in sin. All evils that we face are the product of a seed sown by Satan in the heart of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3). Romans 5:12
- Also consider this in producing Christians. If you want a Christian plant the seed of God’s word. If you plant anything else you are going to get something else. I.e. – the Koran will produce Muslims. The Methodist discipline will produce Methodists. The Baptist manual will produce Baptists. Book of Mormon, Watchtower materials, Vatican materials all produce something other than a Christian.
That is why Paul said, we should not preach anything other than the gospel – Galatians 1:6-9; Revelation 22:8-9, 1 Corinthians 2:1-2, 4:6, etc.
2 Corinthians 11:4 (he was concerned that they might tolerate such)

c. Manifested in what we are – our youth may not totally understand this, but those who have lived a good portion of their lives do. We can only hope that we can persuade our youth so that they will be wise enough to learn from us and not repeat the same mistakes we have made.
The fact: What we are is due to what we have done in the past. Many of the problems we face are the product of poor choices from our past. Seed was planted and it is now sprouting.
WE cannot HONESTLY blame heredity, environment, our parents, friends or society.

d. Manifested in what we will become
– no matter what we are now, the future is still ahead of us. It is yet to be determined.
We can change it if we want to – 2 Corinthians 5:17. The gospel is about change – (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
Fact: What our future will be depends on what we are willing to sow right now.
- Again, this is something we need to impress to our youth. The habits you formulate now will direct you paths and decisions in the future. Learning to read your Bible every day while young will only help you when you get older. Praying every day, etc.

II. Some facts about sowing and reaping

a. We will reap what we sow – 1 Corinthians 15:33 – evil company corrupts good habits
Proverbs 22:8, “He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, And the rod of his anger will fail.”
You cannot sow wild oats and not expect a wild crop.

b. We are ALL sowing – many want to be recluses and think they do not impact others, but we all do. Matt. 12:36-37 – even our words are seeds.
Matthew 5:16 – Christians are EXPECTED to let their lights shine (also Phil. 2:14-16)

c. We are all sowing in one of two fields – either the flesh or the Spirit – Galatians 5:19-23 describes the fruit of these two fields – depending on what we are sowing. We must never forget there is no middle ground.
Romans 8:5 says, “those who live according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”
Remember also the two masters Jesus said we CANNOT serve – Matthew 6:24.

d. We will reap in proportion to how much we sow – 2 Corinthians 9:6. This also applies both good and bad. This context is dealing with good things.
The truth is many of us do not have very productive lives because we are not sowing all that much seed (What we are sowing is seeds of indifference, mediocrity and apathy).

e. Sometimes we reap more than we sow – Hosea 8:7 says, “They sow the wind, And reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no bud; It shall never produce meal. If it should produce, Aliens would swallow it up."
1 Corinthians 5:6 - Leaven spreads – it can impact the whole lump, for good or bad.

f. God knows what we are sowing – Galatians 6:7 begins, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked”
Hebrews 4:12-13 – none is hidden from Him.
Psalm 44:21 – “For He knows the secrets of the heart”
Proverbs 15:3 – “they eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch of the evil and the good.”

g. What we sow will reach its culmination in eternity –
Galatians 6:8. It will either be corruption or eternal life.
Jeremiah 17:10, “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.”

h. We must sow in patience –
Galatians 6:9 – do not grow weary, in due season we shall reap…
Hebrews 10:36 – need of endurance…

My point in this lesson has been for us to consider where we are at right now and realize that it is a product of this principle. But no matter where we are right now, if it is not a good place we can change. What we become in the future depends on what we are willing to sow right now.

Based on lessons by Mark Copeland and Bobby K. Thompson