Sowing and Reaping

 

“For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Gal. 6:7. This is an unchangeable law of God; and this law applies to the believers as well as to the unbelievers. It is not possible to sow a seed in our actions, words or even thoughts that would not bring the harvest to us. And the harvest is always more plentiful than the seed sown.

“Every seed sown produces a harvest of its kind. So it is in human life. We all need to sow the seeds of compassion, sympathy, and love; for we shall reap what we sow. Every characteristic of selfishness, selflove, self-esteem, every act of self-indulgence, will bring forth a like harvest. He who lives for self is sowing to the flesh, and of the flesh he will reap corruption.” COL, p. 85.

David committed a sin by causing the death of Uriah. This sin was forgiven to him after he repented and confessed it, but yet he had to reap the harvest of his sin: Four of his children died prematurely. Where the sowing and reaping is clearly seen is in the upbringing of the children. Often parents neglect to discipline their children when they are small and later when they grow bigger, the parents are not able to correct them anymore.

Parents think that it is an expression of love to their children when they are not punished for their misbehaviour and when they are given all what they want.

“In your blind and foolish fondness you have both surrendered to your child. You have allowed her to hold the reins in her tiny fists, and she ruled you both before she was able to walk. What can be expected of the future in view of the past? Let not the example of this indulged and petted child give lessons which will testify against you, and which the judgment will show have resulted in the loss of scores of children. If men and women accept you as a teacher from God, will they not be inclined to follow your pernicious example in the indulgence of their children? Will not the sin of Eli be yours? And will not the retribution that fell on him fall on you? Your child will never see the kingdom of God with her present habits and disposition. And you, her parents, will be the ones who have closed the gates of heaven before her. How, then, will it stand in regard to you own salvation? Remember that you will reap what you sow.” Test. Vol. 4, p. 383.

Many parents are guilty of Eli’s sin by neglecting to discipline their children in their early years. The first three years are the most important. That time the discipline is the most effective to the child. At the age of seven, the character has been formed. After this age it will be much harder to correct bad behaviour. When the children reach the teenage years, it is almost impossible to change them. At that time the parents wonder what has gone wrong. Why have their children no interest in religion?

Of course some parents may be too harsh and demanding on their children and fail to show love and affection to them. This also is sowing wrong seed and the harvest is again the loss of their children. Children of such parents often hate their parents and their religion. The most precious work of sowing is to sow the gospel seed into human hearts. This work of sowing will also produce the richest harvest. The Lord says, “Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters.” Isa. 32:20.

“This I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” 2 Cor. 9:6.

“To sow beside all waters means a continual imparting of God’s gifts. It means giving wherever the cause of God or the needs of humanity demand our aid. This will not tend to poverty. ‘He which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.’

The sower multiplies his seed by casting it away. So it is with those who are faithful in distributing God’s gifts. By imparting they increase their blessings. God has promised them a sufficiency that they may continue to give. ‘Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.’ Luke 6:38.” COL, 85, 86.

Apostle Paul dedicated his life into sowing the gospel seed, and he never turned back. All the trials and persecution did not shake his faith. Today God is calling men and women to work in His vineyard. “The harvest is great but the labourers are few.” The value of one soul is more than all the riches of the world together. We are not to sow the gospel seed occasionally by impulse, but steadily with constant effort. Apostle Paul was a tentmaker. This was his profession to make a living, but his main job was to preach the gospel, we also need to make missionary work as our main job and besides this we do other work for earning money.

It is the free time when most of the sin and vanity are done. But if our holidays and free time is spent in soul-saving work, then Satan will be defeated and blessed harvest is waiting for us.

Every thought is a seed sown that bears harvest; but when we pray without ceasing then wrong thoughts cannot enter into our minds. Every word is a seed sown, but when the Holy Spirit inspires all what we speak, then the harvest of our words will be a blessing to us.

Every act what we do is also a seed that will bring a sure harvest to us. If we do like David writes in the Psalms we will do less sin. “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” Ps. 1:2.

No person has ever suffered as an innocent. Every sorrow, every suffering is a result of our own sowing. No sacrifice what we do is really a sacrifice because the Lord will bless us and pay us richly all what we have given.

Let us then learn the lesson of sowing and reaping and start sowing the seed of kindness, and unselfish love and we will rejoice when the harvest comes to us.
AMEN.

Timo Martin, Canada