“The wicked earns deceptive wages, But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.”
Proverbs 11:18 (NAS)
“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” 2 Corinthians 9:6 (NAS)
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” Galatians 6:7-9 (NAS)
If you have ever received a gift but you suspected the giver had ulterior motives, you can identify with Solomon’s proverb above. I am certain that you are familiar with the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It reminds us to conduct ourselves properly toward others. It is not a promoter of wicked, deceptive, selfish motives. Our treatment of others is the seed we plant in the field of life for a harvest in our own lives.
This is why Paul wrote the Corinthians about their benevolence and exhorted them to sow based on the need and God’s direction rather than personal motivation. In God’s infinite wisdom, he designed human life to operate on the fundamental principle of sowing and reaping (Gen. 1:28). The scientific world refers to it as “cause and effect.” No matter what we “sow” there will be some “reaping” that results from it. Paul is concerned about the motivation and attitude of the Corinthian believers. If their sowing is motivated by need and divine direction, then generosity is all that should be added. Again, the truth of sowing and reaping is not founded upon selfish motives.
Paul reminded the Galatian believers that personal motivation cannot be hid from God. The person who attempts it is only deceiving him/herself and mocking God. It doesn’t matter how we spin it, if our sowing is fleshly motivated, then we will only reap that which decays and perishes. But, if the Spirit motivates our sowing, then we will reap that which endures to eternal life. So, if we won’t grow weary from the inconsistencies in this life, and will continue to sow good seed in our lives, we will reap the equivalent blessing at the proper time. Someone has said, “All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seed of today.” I certainly want a beautiful garden in my tomorrows. Don’t you?
Dear Father, thank you for sowing grace and mercy in our lives. Forgive us our selfish motives and deliver us from evil. Grant that we may correctly understand the biblical principle of sowing and reaping. Empower us to sow out of Spirit-directed motivation. Bless us with your riches from glory. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his seed and live to reap eternal life,