Sowing and reaping
Dear friends
I won't be able to join you for 2 weeks as I head off for reservist training. You guys have been a tremendous blessing to me as we strive to serve each other - pl go ahead with the meetings and continue to bless and encourage each other. In the meantime, here's the latest instalment of my thoughts.
Many of you will be familiar with the biblical concept of sowing and reaping. I thought one of my pastors presented quite a good view of the issue on Sunday. There are three interesting characteristics of the principle of sowing and reaping:
1. We sow what we reap. Therefore do not be deceived.
2. We reap after we sow. Therefore do not be discouraged.
3. We reap more than we sow. Therefore do not be calculative.
We sow what we reap - do not be deceived.
I think I've mentioned this topic a couple of times previously. "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." Gal 6:7 Never think that we can get away with pretend Christianity. Nor should we waste our time with the same. Pretend Christianity wastes our time, and worse deceives us into thinking that we're doing something of value when in fact, we're just passing time. If Christianity has become a mere ritual and an obligation, then let's break out of that trap.
Rituals and obligations are tiring. They're boring. So what are they good for? Instilling discipline. But discipline to do what? Surely not discipline in and of itself. So don't be deceived by labels and routines. Attending church? Attending cell? Good. Actually doing something about life outside church, outside cell? Ah, now we're talking.
Therefore let's make the effort to sow genuine seeds of life, where these seeds really count - in our lives - not just inside but outside church. In the lives of others. Then, in God's timing, we can reap a good harvest. As it says in Gal 6:8-9 "The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." Let's sow wisely and reap eternal life for ourselves and our loved ones.
We reap after we sow - do not be discouraged.
The second thing, which ought to be obvious, but yet is not so obvious, is that we reap only after we sow - so don't be discouraged when there seems to be no progress. Things could be germinating in the ground! So if any of us have been working hard for the Lord but seeing no tangible progress, don't give up! Keep praying. Keep working. Keep blessing. Wait for His timing (Eccl 3:1-1-2). It will come.
We reap more than we sow. Therefore do not be calculative.
The third thing also ought to be obvious, but often escapes our consciousness. We reap more than we sow - so don't be calculative. 2 Cor 9:6-8 says "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, SO THAT in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
God will provide ALL grace in ABOUNDING measure. SO THAT, having all we need, we can abound in every good work. So as we sow generously of our time, our money and our effort, God will provide, so that we can continue to abound in good work, multiplying even what we began with.
Conclusion
So now we know that by God's rule, we reap WHAT we sow, AFTER we sow, and by the same rule, reap MORE than we sowed for His good purpose. Knowing this truth, what is our response? Let me suggest an answer from the same theme of sowing and reaping in John 12:24-25 "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."
In this Easter season we remember that God transformed the rules for us. The one person who sowed only good seed, reaped the wages of our sin. Today, we enjoy eternal life by His grace. Paul says in Gal 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Having been that kernel which fell to the ground and died, no wonder Paul was able to produce so many seeds of life. Having God's very Holy Spirit in our hearts today, shall we not also produce many seeds for Him?
Have a blessed Easter everyone and make the most of every opportunity! I look forward to seeing you all again in 2 weeks time and hearing our Easter adventures :)
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matt 5: 14-16
I won't be able to join you for 2 weeks as I head off for reservist training. You guys have been a tremendous blessing to me as we strive to serve each other - pl go ahead with the meetings and continue to bless and encourage each other. In the meantime, here's the latest instalment of my thoughts.
Many of you will be familiar with the biblical concept of sowing and reaping. I thought one of my pastors presented quite a good view of the issue on Sunday. There are three interesting characteristics of the principle of sowing and reaping:
1. We sow what we reap. Therefore do not be deceived.
2. We reap after we sow. Therefore do not be discouraged.
3. We reap more than we sow. Therefore do not be calculative.
We sow what we reap - do not be deceived.
I think I've mentioned this topic a couple of times previously. "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." Gal 6:7 Never think that we can get away with pretend Christianity. Nor should we waste our time with the same. Pretend Christianity wastes our time, and worse deceives us into thinking that we're doing something of value when in fact, we're just passing time. If Christianity has become a mere ritual and an obligation, then let's break out of that trap.
Rituals and obligations are tiring. They're boring. So what are they good for? Instilling discipline. But discipline to do what? Surely not discipline in and of itself. So don't be deceived by labels and routines. Attending church? Attending cell? Good. Actually doing something about life outside church, outside cell? Ah, now we're talking.
Therefore let's make the effort to sow genuine seeds of life, where these seeds really count - in our lives - not just inside but outside church. In the lives of others. Then, in God's timing, we can reap a good harvest. As it says in Gal 6:8-9 "The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." Let's sow wisely and reap eternal life for ourselves and our loved ones.
We reap after we sow - do not be discouraged.
The second thing, which ought to be obvious, but yet is not so obvious, is that we reap only after we sow - so don't be discouraged when there seems to be no progress. Things could be germinating in the ground! So if any of us have been working hard for the Lord but seeing no tangible progress, don't give up! Keep praying. Keep working. Keep blessing. Wait for His timing (Eccl 3:1-1-2). It will come.
We reap more than we sow. Therefore do not be calculative.
The third thing also ought to be obvious, but often escapes our consciousness. We reap more than we sow - so don't be calculative. 2 Cor 9:6-8 says "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, SO THAT in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
God will provide ALL grace in ABOUNDING measure. SO THAT, having all we need, we can abound in every good work. So as we sow generously of our time, our money and our effort, God will provide, so that we can continue to abound in good work, multiplying even what we began with.
Conclusion
So now we know that by God's rule, we reap WHAT we sow, AFTER we sow, and by the same rule, reap MORE than we sowed for His good purpose. Knowing this truth, what is our response? Let me suggest an answer from the same theme of sowing and reaping in John 12:24-25 "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."
In this Easter season we remember that God transformed the rules for us. The one person who sowed only good seed, reaped the wages of our sin. Today, we enjoy eternal life by His grace. Paul says in Gal 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Having been that kernel which fell to the ground and died, no wonder Paul was able to produce so many seeds of life. Having God's very Holy Spirit in our hearts today, shall we not also produce many seeds for Him?
Have a blessed Easter everyone and make the most of every opportunity! I look forward to seeing you all again in 2 weeks time and hearing our Easter adventures :)
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matt 5: 14-16
Comments