You Will Harvest What You Plant 

This rule of generosity is quite simple, yet many times it seems to be overlooked by most people.  “Do not be

deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.  Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people…”lxiv 

Many people don’t believe that the law of sowing and reaping works.  There are those who will mock this truth.  We live in a period where people are so interested in themselves that they refuse to look at the evidence.   

The evidence is this: sowing and reaping produce a harvest of many blessings for those who embrace it!  Many people find it hard to believe that God will bless those who do good.  Some people even try to convince others to turn their backs on what they think is an absurd idea. 

Many people who struggle with allowing blessings to flow into their lives, struggle with this concept.  When they allow doubt or disbelief into their minds, they unknowingly refuse to allow the law of sowing and reaping to work in their lives in a positive manner.  I know of many people who have refused these promises and have walked away from generosity all together.   

Many times, negative attitudes about sowing and reaping begin after someone has actually tried applying this law in their own life.  They may have tried it for a short time and didn’t get the results they thought they deserved.  Sadly, the practice was abandoned and they now act as though sowing and reaping doesn’t produce positive results.  They go around trying to convince others that sowing and reaping doesn’t work.  They may even mock those who obey this law.   

Most people relate the law of sowing and reaping to finances and money, but this rule applies to any area of life.  “Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.”lxv This rule applies

to work, love, time, health, kindness, patience, friendship, forgiveness and more.  It also works with negative forces as well.  If you sow hatred, greed, bitterness, negativity or any other negative force, you will reap that in your life.  All of these things are seeds that you may be sowing.  

In another version of Galatians 6:7 it says “whatsoever.”lxvi Think about this, it means whatsoever or everything someone sows, will produce a harvest.  This is simply a law of God that applies to every area of our lives.  There are no exceptions! 

A farmer does not just go out one day and start harvesting crops.  I know from experience, that in the garden in my backyard, I do not simply go out in the summer and start picking tomatoes.  First, I need to plant the seeds.  Next, I need to water and weed the garden.  Then after a season, if I am diligent, I begin to see the harvest.  It’s the same with any area of your life.  Consistent good will not come, unless it is first sown into the world. 

It’s important to note that we are not talking about a one-time event here.  You do not sow one day and then the following day begin to reap a harvest.  No, you must continually sow.  It takes time.  You must learn to sow, day after day, week after week, and year after year.  It must be made a habit, so that if you don’t do it, something inside of you doesn’t feel quite right.  If you are faithful, steady and habitual in your sowing, you will reap a harvest…guaranteed.  It’s a promise of God that, “he who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.”lxvii 

The biggest reason so many people walk away from sowing and reaping is because they never really gave it a chance.  They may have sown a few times; they may even have had a genuine heart when doing it.  They may have even waited patiently for a day, or a month and their harvest didn’t materialize.  When nothing happened, they lost interest. 

The key is to realize that the level in which you reap is in direct proportion to what you sow into other people’s lives

and the world.  In other words, if you sow a little, then you will reap a little.  If you sow a lot, then you will also reap a lot.  If you sow occasionally, then you will reap occasionally.  Sow consistently and you will reap consistently.  If you

learn to make sowing a habit, that is practiced regularly, then that is exactly what you will reap in your life. 

Remember that you are producing a harvest and it doesn’t happen overnight.  If you are working at planting positive seeds in the lives of others, you will reap a harvest if you do not give up.lxviii  Your harvest will come at the proper time.  Depending on the climate of a particular region, harvest times may be different for growers.  In Florida, for instance, they begin harvest much sooner than growers in Maine. 

Michael at R2W