Sowing, Reaping, And Giving Up

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

Beloved, Paul is telling us, that the things we "sow," our actions, our attitudes, and our affections, all have future consequences. If we look at this in the negative, it means that if we continually sin, that will have a negative impact on us and others in the future. Now, he can do all the wishful thinking and hoping he wants about wheat, but if he sows beans, guess what is growing in his field? Beans. Because that is what was sown. If we sow sin in our lives, we will reap the consequences or "wages" of sin, which is death; eternal death (Romans 6:23). Paul tells us, that if we continue to sow after the flesh of our lives: selfish desires, lusts of the flesh, lust of the eye, sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry (which is putting anything in our lives that come before our relationship with God), then there are consequences that will grow in the field of our life.

But on the other hand, if we are living our lives after the Spirit, we will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Earlier in this book, Paul lays out some sins of the flesh, in chapter 5, and tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is love. Joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control are all by-products of love. If we are walking, "sowing," in the Spirit, then we will reap the wonderful benefits that come as a result of our sowing. We will see our love grow, and because our love is increasing, both for God and for His people, all of these by-products will also grow in our life.

And then, Paul tells us, don't grow weary of sowing love. When a farmer sows, he sometimes has to go through a time of inclimate weather, when it looks like his sowing is in vain, and the crop will never come up. The farmer could say, "I'm tired of this sowing. I'm out of here. Someone else can do it. I'm tired." Does that sound familiar? "I keep loving this person, and all I get is rejection. I'm tired of it." Or you might say to yourself, "I'm the only one who is doing this. I am tired of it." Or maybe you have said, "I never get to enjoy the service. I am always here in Children's Ministry. I'm tired. Someone else can do it."

Beloved, do not lose heart. As is born out in the book of Esther, maybe God has raised you up to do what you are doing "for such a time as this." God is working through your life, through your sowing in the Spirit. We can't always see it right away, but He is. And if we will just keep on sowing, and ministering in the place where God has placed you, whether that be in the marketplace or in retirement, His Word tells us, that in due season, we shall reap "if we do not lose heart." So I encourage you dear one, that this day, you do not lose heart, but draw upon the strength and might of the Lord and the power of His Holy Spirit. Keep on sowing, you will reap what you sow, and don't give up. Amen.