“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:8
A Mystery
When I think of fishing, I immediately think of hardy Greek fishermen, their nets, the deep blue sea and quaint, vividly-coloured fishing boats. But when we think of sowing, we think of scattering, as seeds, upon, over, or in the land or earth, for growth, as in a green field. We may think, further of farming, husbandry, plowers, sowers, and reapers.
Sowing also means to disperse, spread, or disseminate; to sow distrust or dissension, to spread rumors, or disagreement.
But for the children of God our Lord has brought us into contact with nature, so that we might listen to the voice that has created all things.
One of the greatest and most precious lessons taught related to growth, is the parable of the growing seed. (Mark 4:26–28). The seed is the Word of God (Luke 8:11; Isaiah 61:11). Christ, the heavenly Flower came as the sower of Truth (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 35–36, 71). The sower also represents God’s people who labour in Christ’s service; we’re His substitutes on earth. (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 63)
As in the natural sowing of the seed, so it is in the spiritual sowing of the seed. The power to produce life is from God (Education, p. 105). God is this life, and there is life in the seed.
The work of God’s sower is a work of faith. The germination of growth of the seed is a mystery. The sower cannot understand it. The good seed may be unnoticed in the heart, however, it lies quietly there. But, after the Holy Spirit breathes on the soul it brings forth fruit.
We can see, thereby, that if we speak to the earth and its seed, it will teach us, answer us.
Questions, questions, questions!
In our lifetime we don’t know which, or if we shall prosper in . . . this or that thing or effort. Or, which direction to take . . . here or there. Questions, questions, questions!! These questions, however, are not for us to settle. But, “in the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand.” Ecclesiastes 11:6
Furthermore, they that sow in tears shall reap in joy, singing (Psalms 126:5–6; Education, p. 105–106). These are lessons of life! “The wicked worketh a deceitful work,: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.” Proverbs 11:18. But the cry reverberates throughout the world—“When, Lord? Where, Lord?” Ah! The harvest will come in due season. One may faint if he expects to see the harvest immediately. (Galatians 6:8–9)
You see, the germination of the seed represents the beginning of spiritual life. When did yours begin . . . or end? It also represents the development of the plant; this is the development of character! How is your character, its profile?
Grow or Die!
There can be no life without growth. The plant either grows or dies. We grow or die. Are you growing or dying? The plant, however, grows silently, but continuously without being perceived. So is the growth of character. Our life may be perfect as we grow, but if we don’t fulfill God’s purpose for us, we don’t advance. We are like a stagnant pool, a dead sea (Education, p. 105–106; Hosea 6:3; 14:5, 7; Malachi 4:2). When man exalts himself above the influence of the Holy Spirit, he reaps a harvest of iniquity, and sows disobedience.
He gradually ignores warnings and gradually loses his fear of God. He sows to the flesh and reaps corruption and has contempt for the commandments of God, and stands on the side of Satan, the sower of error (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 37,71). His heart of flesh becomes a heart of stone. He resists the truth with his heart of resistance. His resistance has produced its harvest. . . . the soul is destroyed!
Mockery—a sham!
It is because men sow seeds of evil, that wars, lawlessness, crime, violence and terror prevailed in the antediluvian world, and prevail in the world again today (SDA Bible Commentary, vol.6, p. 481). We read on from Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” The word for “mockery” is “turning up one’s nose.”
Ah! But no man can successfully snub God or escape or evade His decree that, “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap”—the unchangeable law of life, a rule of God, a principle of nature. He that soweth on the principle of blessings shall reap. (2 Corinthians 9:6; Proverbs 11:24; Luke 6:30)
Man cannot be entertaining any vain hope of enjoying its rewards while they live in the neglect of its duties. Many might make a show of the work of religion, though at the same time they make a show and profession of it; but He assures them that this, their way, is their folly, for, though hereby they may possibly impose upon others, yet they do but deceive themselves if they think to impose upon God, who is perfectly acquainted with their hearts as well as actions; and He cannot be deceived, so He will not be mocked, so He lays down as a rule again to ourselves, “That whatever a man soweth that shall he also reap.” So will our account be in the great day!
Lifetime Opportunities
Moreover, Galatians 6:10 reveals further to us, “as we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” We have two groups here. . . . All men and them of the household of faith. The latter group, household of faith, is especially the obligation of the children of God to do good towards . . . . especially to believers.
Spirituality, therefore, is shown by doing good! We read on with this scary statement; If one neglects to care for his own and fellow believers—the family of God, he is worse than an unbeliever. This failure to provide is a denial of faith (1 Timothy 5:8).
Ah! But therefore, to be right in this manner of opportunity, we must not, as too many do, neglect it in our lifetime, and defer it till we come to die, under a pretence of doing something of this nature then; for, as we cannot be sure that we shall then have an opportunity for it, so neither, if we should, have we any ground to expect that what we do will be so acceptable to God.
Much less that we can atone for our past neglects by leaving something behind us for the good of others when we can no longer keep it ourselves. But, we should take care to do good in our lifetime, yes, to make this the business of our lives!!
Be ready, also, to improve every opportunity for it; we should not content ourselves in having done some good already, but, whenever fresh occasions offer themselves, as far as our capacity reaches we should be ready to embrace them too, for we are directed to “give a portion to seven, and also to eight.” Ecclesiastes 11:2. God always furnishes us with opportunities; the poor we have always with us (Mathew 26:11). None, however, who stand in need of us are to be wholly overlooked, yet there is a difference to be made between some and others.
Plowers, sowers, and reapers
There is another consideration and message for us in Galatians 6:7; “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” These words our Lord spoke referred to Himself also, and are true of every seed that is sown. Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies it produces much grain. (John 12:24)
For all Christians, if their work is spiritual it must follow this law also, because it is the only way God’s fruit can be brought forth.
Upon all of this, what needs to be done in our lives? Well, for one thing—to be endlessly patient! There is nothing more abusive or insulting than our dull, ignorant, gross, unfaithfulness to God! If He does not make us plowers, sowers, and reapers all at once we lose faith in Him! Isn’t that so? Our patience—and faith—is exhausted! Many give up—apostate!
The ministry, often, and modern evangelism make the mistake of thinking that a worker or servant of God must plow the field, sow the seed, and reap the harvest in one hour! Our Lord, however, was never in a hurry with the disciples— and those of today. Jesus kept on sowing the seed and paid no attention to whether they understood Him or not. He spoke the Word of God, and by His own life produced the right atmosphere for it to grow, and then left it done and good. Why? Because He knew very well that the seed had in it all the germinating power of God and would bring forth fruit after its kind when it was put in the right “soil.”
Beside all waters!
We are never the same after listening to the Truth. Ah! We may forget it for a term, but we will meet it again. Sow the Word of God, and no matter when, and whomever, and everyone who listens will get to God—sooner or later, but sometime. . . . will eventually believe it!!
Err, ahh, but if you sow promises, hopes, resolutions or opinions, emotions, feelings, attitudes, desires, or ambitions, you will reap nothing but disappointment, stress and exhaustion. . . . ”ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.” Leviticus 26:16. But, sow the Word of God, and as sure as God is God, and Christ is Christ, it will bring forth fruit. A person may not understand all that is said, but something is intuitively at work to still hold onto. See that you sow the real seed of the Word of God, “beside all waters.” (Messages To Young People, p. 217)
We learned, consequently, this day, the important message of sowing to the spirit; and that the new life in Christ is presented under the figure or picture of farming; and that it is easy for a believer to be deceived. The believer is not to forget that the unchangeable, unyielding law of sowing and reaping applies to him as either spiritual or carnal.
It applies also to the saved and unsaved; “do not err, my beloved brethren.” James 1:16. Every man’s work will be tested by fire (1Corinthians 3:10–13). Remember too, we must be of one accord, one mind, one affection! If we look at exceptions we lose the blessings!
Fatigue syndrome
The children of God, the spiritual believers are, therefore, not to become weary in the work of faith, in well doing. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9. (Ministry of Healing, p. 548; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Thessalonians 3:13). They will reap at the time of harvest (James 5:7–8) if they don’t faint or despair, be unloosed or exhausted spiritually. (Hebrews 12:3, 5)
We are not to excuse ourselves from any part of our duty, so neither should we grow weary in it. There is in all of us too great a proneness to this; we are very apt to flag and tire in duty, yes, to fall off from it, particularly that part of it to which the apostle has here a special regard— that of doing good to others.
He gives a very good reason for it, because “in due season we shall reap, if we faint not,” where He assures us that there is a reward in reserve for all who sincerely employ themselves in well doing; that this reward will certainly be bestowed on us in the proper season—if not in this world, yet undoubtedly in the next, but on the supposition that we faint not in the way of our duty.
But, if we grow weary of it and withdraw from it, we shall not only miss out of this reward, but lose the comfort and advantage of what we have already done. But, if we hold on and hold out in well-doing, though our reward may be delayed, yet it will surely come, and will be so great as to make us an abundant reward for all our pains and constancy.
Note this that: perseverance in well-doing is our wisdom and interest as well as our duty, for to this only is the recompense or reward promised.
The Sheaves of Life
All of life is sowing time! But, now especially is your sowing time (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p.31, 330). Every day we are planting by thought, word, and deed for a future reaping. Although a period of waiting usually separates the reaping from the sowing, the harvest is sure. Some sheaves will be gathered before we die, and others will be reaped in eternity.
What do you do if you have neglected your sowing time? Eh? First, give yourself wholly and unreservedly to God. “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me. . . . for My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28–30
If you have allowed God-given opportunities to pass, and are only self-pleasing, full of selfish pride, and self exalting, then empty yourself of these traits and impediments on your journey. Repent before it is too late. Redeem the time!
Demonstrate selflessness, by becoming lowly and obedient. Empty selfish pride, enter a submissive position, expand on a selfless perspective, emulating Jesus Christ as a pattern for living.
Use your talents in the Master’s service. Surrender entirely! You can’t afford to lose one day—one minute! Put away your unbelief, doubts, envy, and evil thinking and go to work in humble faith, and with earnest prayers to the Lord to pardon you for your years of unconsecration and neglect.
Ask the Lord for help—seek Him. If you seek Him, you will find Him and He will strengthen and bless you. (Counsels on Health, p. 47)
A rich man who had grown old deeded all of his property to his only son and planned to live with him the rest of his life. But, after awhile the daughter-in-law got tired of having him around and told her husband that his father would have to leave. The son, unwilling to part with the vast wealth he had received, decided to put his father into the cheapest nursing home he could find.
About a week later, the two men walked slowly down the road to the place where the elderly gentleman was to live. Stopping to rest for a few moments, the father began to weep profusely.
The son’s conscience started to bother him, so he made some weak excuses for what he was doing. Finally the rejected man controlled himself enough to say, “My dear son, I’m not crying because you’re sending me to this old rundown, rat infested home for senior citizens. I’m crying because of my own sins!
“Forty years ago I walked down this same road with my father and took him to this same place you’re taking me. I am only reaping what I sowed.”
Are you scattering deeds of kindness, or are you living solely for selfish ends? Examine your life in the light of God’s Word and eternity. It will tell you what kind of a harvest to expect.
He who plants thorns must not expect to gather flowers.
Sow today what you want to reap tomorrow!
SOW WHAT!?!
Be careful what you sow!! A hearty AMEN!
John Theodorou
USA