CHRISTIAN ROCK CAFE

[rrm_bcnu]

God has ordained laws of sowing and reaping to encourage us to be careful of what and how we sow. Failure to understand these laws is a major reason why so many men "have sown the wind, and shall reap the whirlwind."

The laws of sowing and reaping:

Firstly, the type of seed that we sow determines the type of harvest that we reap (GAL 6:7, 8). As the majority of us sow mostly non-spiritual seed we shall reap largely non-spiritual harvests. This does not seem so bad to us because we may presently enjoy physical "playthings" and have few spiritual needs but when we suffer trials, illness or old age we require spiritual "things" to satisfy us - and discover that we lack them.

Secondly, the quantity of seed sown is also important because "he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully (2CO 9:6). This law explains to us why we, who sow so much more physical seed, end up with grossly disproportionate physical spiritual harvests to our eternal regret. We are like farmers who sow too much of the wrong crops.

Thirdly, we cannot choose to sow at any time that we fancy because to everything there is a season and time to every purpose under the heaven - a time to plant (ECC 6:1, 2). In most cases the best time to sow is spring time (or youth time). Sowing at other times generally brings forth a poor harvest!

Fourthly, there is always a lag-period between sowing and reaping and we must "not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (GAL 6:9). Generally, the better the type of harvest, the longer the lag-period (eg the time taken to harvest durians compared with bananas). Applying this general principle, we would expect the lag-period for spiritual harvests to be longer than for physical harvests - oftentimes the harvest is in the next world.

Fifthly, as with most things in this imperfect earth, the laws of sowing and reaping are not perfectly implemented here. God allows many exceptions to test whether we would believe God's promise that at the end of all things "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (GAL 6:7)

Applications in the non-spiritual realm:

Are we over-sowing "seeds of materialism" which will result in an over-harvest of material things? We must be careful of what we sow in our physical bodies - are we sowing seeds of ill heath with cigarettes, alcohol, overeating, lack of exercise? Are we sowing "seeds of neglect" with our parents so that we will eventually reap "harvests of neglect" from our children? Or seeds of rudeness" to them, to reap the same from our children?

Applications in the spiritual realm:

Are we sowing too little spiritual seeds to see us through our times of trials, illnesses and old age? Are we looking forward to a great harvest in eternity? Are we sowing in spring time?

Are we reading the Bible, to reap the harvests of promises and guidance from it? Are we faithfully putting to tests the promise in the Bible, so that we will be unshaken in times of trials? Are we sowing seeds of prayer to gather a bountiful harvests of answers in due time? Are we giving to the needy and reaping God's bounty? Do we realize that at the end of it all, almost all things are received according to the laws of sowing and reaping - the notable exception is our eternal salvation which is God's free gift!

Conclusion: PSA 126:5, 6 "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

http://www.glcc-online.com/sermons/sglcc920823.htm