Sowing and Reaping

Good morning Brothers, Sisters, family and friends.
I have been thinking a lot lately about Sowing and Reaping. I know that we have all heard countless
exhortations on the Sowing and Reaping principle. I know that I have and thought that I could recite verse
upon verse on the subject. But I think that that fact has been a hindrance to me. For I heard with my ears and
with my brain - provoking me to understanding - yet letting the subject completely pass over my heart. For as
we all know, understanding is one thing and taking a subject to heart and living it is completely another.
We heard Brother Dave a few weeks ago site a verse from I Timothy. He exhorted us on how we
must exercise to Godliness. Let us refresh this by reading these two verses from I Timothy, Chapter 4,
starting at verse 7.
(7)But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself [rather] unto godliness. (8)For
bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the
life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Two things hit me when I read these verses with Bro. Dave. The first of course was the word which
Bro. Dave pointed out ....“exercise”. Now by the looks of me I think you can all tell that I wholeheartedly
endorse that bodily exercise profits me little and the word itself gets little usage in my vocabulary lately. But
in this text it is a very important word. Exercise. Now the Apostle Paul did not use the word “direct”. He
didn’t say direct thyself rather unto Godliness. He didn’t say allow thyself unto godliness. He said exercise
thyself. This is an active verb. A word that tells us that it takes a lot of effort. That we must put forth the
effort, pushing ourselves to the utter human limits to Godliness. For those who exercise regularly will tell you
that unless you break a sweat and maintain your endurance, the workout is of little value. Exercise, a
carefully chosen word. Exercise to Godliness, a very effective phrase.
The second thing that hit me when reading this verse was that the text goes on to say that exercising in
Godliness profits us now as well as in the future; as in relation to the Kingdom, for Paul says in that passage in
verse 8, “having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come”. Now I have always been
waiting for the promises to be fulfilled, but I never thought much about the profit of this mortal existence. I
had always been under the impression that I, that we, the human race as a people, have come so far from God
and from His plan and purpose that to be left away from Him would not be noticed. That we could not miss
what we did not know. I know now that after finding this group of true believers, this sect of faith that I have
come closer to God and that I feel His blessing on me every day in so many small ways. Things that before I
took for granted seem to indicate God’s presence all around us, everyday. Things like the lightly falling rain,
the smile of a stranger, the hug of a loved one. Now these things all existed before, and I’m sure that I
noticed them. But it is only after learning to appreciate them that I felt God’s presence in my life. And I
learned that by appreciating them and smiling back at that stranger, and giving a few hugs of my own, that I
received more smiles and hugs in return. And that is so much more of a good feeling than waiting to be
hugged. It’s all about sowing and reaping isn’t it?
There are several principles that should be well remembered when we talk of sowing and reaping. The
first of these of course is that to reap, we must sow our seed. We must take what we are given by God and
cast it out. We cannot hoard our blessings and expect more in return. And the best farmers, those who
produce the best yields, are those who reserve the best fruit for seed to be cast out. Not eating it. Not saving
it to show at the 4H fair; but allowing it to waste for the seed in it. The farmer must scatter his seed upon the
land, and then leave it to the elements. Were he to covetously hoard his seed, he would lose both it and his
produce, for his seed would perish. It perishes when he sows it, but in perishing it brings forth a great
abundance. The prophesy of Malachi tells us why this is. Turn with me to the prophesy of Malachi chapter 2
verse 2.
(2)If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay [it] to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith Yaweh of
hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them
already, because ye do not lay [it] to heart.
Hoarding our blessings, savoring then, counting then again and again, holding them up for others to see, we
are cursed.
So we learn in life, we get by giving; we grow rich by scattering. The man who says he is in possession
of knowledge which he cannot give out because the world is incapable of receiving it, either does not possess
such knowledge, or, if he does, will soon be deprived of it - if he is not already so deprived. To hoard is to
lose; to exclusively retain is to be dispossessed.
How many here have had a birthday within last 12 months? Everybody! That's great! If you haven't
had a birthday in the last 12 months you are in desperate need of prayer! Have you ever had a birthday and
you expected to receive many birthday cards?.... But, didn't. In fact, except for maybe your husband or wife,
you didn't get any. If that has ever happened it probably hurt your feelings. At some point, it might dawn on
you that maybe you haven't been sending birthday cards and the truth would hit you like a brick. If you want
to receive Birthday cards, you have to send birthday cards. Let us read from Paul’s letter to the Galations or
better yet, let me read it for you from the Revised standard version. Galations 6:7-8 NRSV.
(7)Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. (8) If you sow to your
own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal
life from the Spirit.
Now the world had many sayings for phenomenon:
1) "What goes around comes around."
2) "He or she got a dose of their own medicine"
3) "Don't dish it out if you can't take it."
Yes, we reap what we sow. Whatever it is, good or bad. We look for certain things in our life. We expect
certain things. We go to the faucet, and we expect water to come out. We get in our car - expect it to start.
We look to have our needs met. We want to be blessed. It's nice when people think good things about us. I
like it when people have love, joy, peace, and understanding towards me. Sometimes something simple as a
smile or a slap on the back is nice. We look for returns. We want to reap good things...... blessings. But, have
we sown anything? What are we expecting from our jobs? What are we expecting from our families? What are
we expecting from our children? What are we expecting to draw from this Meeting, this fellowship of
believers? We look for certain things. But, have we sown anything? No deposit - No return. Okay, maybe we
once did. But have we lately sown anything? If we want it, we've got to give it first. The sowing comes first.
Then the harvest follows. To look for harvest when nothing is planted is not only backwards but it borders on
thievery. Seeds are the beginning of something. We can't expect to finish something that's not started. We
can't demand rewards while neglecting duties. All seeds have this in common. They are the start of something.
Sowing comes first. Then comes the harvest. How do we get something started? Sow Seed!
Another principle we must remember about sowing and reaping is that we reap what we sow. Reading
together from Galations chapter 6 starting at verse 7.
(7) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
(8) 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.
(9) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Sowing and Reaping: Isn’t amazing that every fact and process in nature contains a moral lesson for
us. There is no law in the world of nature around us which is not to be found operating with the same
mathematical certainty in the mind of man and in human life. All the parables of Jesus are illustrative of this
truth, and are drawn from the simple facts of nature. There is a process of seed-sowing in the mind and life a
spiritual sowing which leads to a harvest according to the kind of seed sown. Thoughts, words, and acts are
the seeds we sow and by divine law they produce after their kind.
The man who thinks hateful thoughts brings hatred upon himself. The man who thinks loving thoughts
is loved. The man whose thoughts, words and acts are sincere, is surrounded by sincere friends; the insincere
man is surrounded by insincere friends. The man who sows wrong thoughts and deeds, and prays that God
will bless him, is in the position of a farmer who, having sown dandelions, asks God to bring forth for him a
harvest of wheat. He who would be blessed, let him scatter blessings. He who would be happy, let him
consider the happiness of others.
We all know that there are many thousands of species of plants grown from seed, but according to the
Bible there are only two types of seed, spiritual and carnal. Spiritual and carnal. Fruit and weeds. Good and
bad. Some edify, build up, and give life while others choke and corrupt. Some grow easy. Some take time. A
dandelion takes a day; Asparagus takes 2 years. And isn’t that a lesson for us? Have we ever noticed that bad
seeds seem to grow easier and faster! And keep in mind that we are talking about more than just agriculture
here. Seeds can be things, our thoughts, our words or our actions.
The dilemma we face today is that we do not always know which are good seed and which are bad.
It’s not like going to Walmart or the local nursery and picking out a package with a pretty picture on it. The
picture on the front showing us what to expect from this seed. It’s not like that at all is it? We have to
choose our seeds carefully, looking into our hearts. And if in doubt, we go ahead and plant that seed, we
need to watch it carefully, ready to pluck it up at the first sign. Because it is another strange fact of nature that
bad seeds, weeds always seem to have deeper roots, and the ability to survive in spite of ourselves. We must
be careful, diligent, ever watchful gardeners. After all Dandelions were once grown in Holland as a flower.
They were actually planted and harvested and now we can’t seem to rid ourselves of them. And as I look
around, I see we have a lot of this kind of plant in our lives now. Things sown in our gardens by technology
and the world around us. Television, for one. Who would have thought that this invention, created to bring
the world closer together, dispensing information en mass, would become the weed in our lives that actually
pulls us further apart. Giving us opportunity to forsake the gathering of ourselves together. Giving us excuse
to forsake the reading of the word and the honoring of our Father.

Then there is another side to this seed sowing. A side not seen by the farming of today. We all drive
past these fields planted in neat rows, creating geometric patterns on the earth. But in earlier times, sowing
was not the science it is today. To sow seed was to scatter it upon the earth. When the plants began to grow,
there were no neat paths for the weeds of sin to encroach upon. The earth was covered with the growth of
that which was sown. And the farmer knew as they sprouted which were fruitful and which were to be
plucked up. Tended carefully, the plants encroached the weeds and not the other way around. In our lives we
have lost that knowledge. We no longer discern good plants from weeds until they have grown and have
encroached upon our fruit bearing plants.
And it is this encroachment of that we should be fearing for our children. This is the tragedy of sin, it
not only hurts us, but it hurts others whom we love. What we do in moderation, our children will do in excess.
As parents we owe our children two things. To live at our best for the glorification of God and to lead our
children to salvation. What a tragic situation it is when we seem more interested in the things of this world
than we do with glorifying God. When we say “I don’t believe in forcing a child to do anything he doesn’t
want to do” or “He’s not old enough to understand yet” then we are not preparing them for the Kingdom to
come. And if that is the way in which we want to lead our children then fine, let’s just be consistent then. Let
them skip Sunday school. Let them decide not to listen to the exhortation, not to participate in the meeting.
Let them not stand for hymns or listen to prayers. Then be consistent. Just let them do the same in the rest of
their lives. Let them skip school. Let them not participate. Let them decide when to take a bath, when to
change clothes, when to go to bed, or see the dentist and so on. Just don’t bother to pray for them later. For
David learned that even though he was a man after God’s own heart, his iniquity had far reaching
consequences. It was because of his iniquity that his child with Bathsheba lived only seven days. Even
though he offered prayer and fasting, God refused to listen because of his sin. And when we loose our
children to this world, let us not blame them, for we sowed the seed. And at harvest we chose to admire it
rather than reserve it for planting again. For as the book of Job tells us, and that is Job Chapter 4 verses 8&9.
(8) Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. (9)By the blast of
God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
We can't cheat on God's laws of sowing and reaping. God will not be mocked. For whatever we sow,
we shall reap. Good or bad. Spiritual or carnal.

We also need to remember that the harvest does not only come in the Kingdom age. We are
constantly reaping what we have sown. Our lives are a product of the choices we have made. Our children’s’
lives are a product of the choices we have made; of the seeds we have sown. Everything reproduces AFTER
IT'S OWN KIND! . It's God's law ....and it's as sure as gravity. Whatsoever we sow, whatever it is, whenever
we do it, we will reap. It's a choice, not chance.
What do we expect from Life? What do we expect from this Meeting? What do we expect from our
children? Scripture states: Let us not deceive ourselves. Whatever we sow we will reap. Don't sit around
expecting chance to take care of things. Make a decision right now to sow, and keep sowing. We all want to
have steady blessings. We like them free flowing. Well II Corinthians tells us in chapter 9 verse 6 that
however we sow it, that's how we'll reap it. If we sow generously we will reap generously. Whatever measure
we use to plant the seed, the same measure will be used to bless us back. Whatever we sow, whenever we do
it, whoever does it, and however manner it's done. ...That's how it's done back. That doesn't look like chance
to me. That's choice ! Here's how it works:
1. No seeds. No harvest
2. Bad seeds. Bad harvest.
3. Good seeds. Good harvest.
We can’t expect bad seeds to act like good seeds.
Gal 6:7-10 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap. 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. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we
faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the
household of faith.
And we must remember that not only our actions but our words are seeds. Words separate families
and brotherhood. There are words that scatter, cause strife and confusion, and are destructive. There are
words that gather, build up, edify, encourage. James writes that our tongue directs our lives. James 3:5&6
states.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little
fire kindleth! And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members,
that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Just as a ship is directed by a small rudder. Just as a 1,000 pound horse can be steered with a 16 oz bit in its
mouth. So can our word be planted as seed. Just as we are blessed, if we bless not, then we shall be cursed.
A law of nature, a law of God.
And in the final plan we see that not only were we sowing for our immediate needs and blessings, but
at the judgment of men, we will be blessed or cursed again. And where will we be standing in the final harvest,
will we be standing on the left with the goats, complaining, criticizing "Where is the harvest?" - “Nothing
good happens to me" - "I'm going to write the farm bureau and give them a piece of my mind." - “It's not my
fault. I needed more rain, more workers, more government subsidy". Let us not deceive ourselves. Whatever
a man sows , that is what he'll reap. If he sows nothing, he reaps nothing. If a man sows weeds, he can call it
anything he wants to. He can call it Wheat, Barley, or Vanilla Wafers for that matter. Professions, pretensions,
and self deception won't change the harvest. God is not deceived.
The only way to change the harvest is to change the sowing. If a man sows dandelions. Dandelions are
what he'll reap. If you want respect - give it. If you want growth - Plant. If you want some slack. Cut
someone else some slack. Smile at others. They'll smile back at you. It's time to stop sitting at the table
expecting fish to mysteriously appear. It's time to throw our lines out.
I know what you are thinking. -You don't have to tell me. I know. -You've been around. You’ve
gotten burned. You trusted so and so, and they violated you. You sowed good things. And got evil back.
Your best efforts went without results. How could I have been such a fool? I won’t make that mistake again!
Be careful !! Only plant sparingly. Make sure you know ahead of time you are going to get something back.
Or, I'll just quit! Let's close up, count up our losses, and go home and cry over spilt milk. -Okay, I admit it!
Some good seed is lost forever. We all know the parable of the sower in Mark 4. And we all know that some
of the seed fell on stony ground and was scorched by the sun. The seed was lost. It did not grow properly.
But the sower did nothing wrong. He sowed. Sometimes you can do the right things. Say the right things.
Bless others. We can sow the fruit of the Spirit. (Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self control.) And in spite of it all, lose some good seed. It may seem like an incredible waste. we
did good and saw little or no results. It's true, some good seed is lost. But God had provided in this law of
sowing and reaping. He has provided for us. Our nature wants us to look at this as a lesson, to look at the
loss and focus on it. We want to record it as a lesson learned and take that lesson to heart. But the Bible tells
us in Ecclesiastes, just turn there with me now. Ecclesiastes chapter 11 starting a verse 1.
(1)Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. (2)Give a portion to seven,
and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. (3)If the clouds be full of
rain, they empty [themselves] upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north,
in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. (4)He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he
that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. (5)As thou knowest not what [is] the way of the spirit, [nor]
how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of
God who maketh all. (6)In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for
thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both [shall be] alike good.
If we keep looking for the perfect time to plant, looking for perfect weather, if we are scared to sow because
of what the clouds will or will not do, if we regard the hard weather of the past, then we will not sow , we will
not reap. See, we've tricked ourselves. That's the trap. Now, here's the truth. I can line up10 seeds here and
sow them carefully, tending the sprouts diligently. Let's say I have a terrible loss, a drought, a hailstorm. And
if I lose nine of the plants. I have lost 90% of my crop, right? But what we fail to see is another of God’s
perfect laws. The one seed produces 30, 60, or even 100 times as much. I win. Now at least I have 30, 60, or
100 seeds where I only had 10 to begin with. Now I am not a rocket scientist but those are numbers I
understand. My nature wants me to cry over the loss of 9, get bitter and angry and stop sowing. Am I so daft?
If we believe in the multiplying power of the good seed, we’ll play this game all day. The truth is: in the
parable, Jesus said the sower still reaped a good harvest. We can see that by knowing that most seeds grow to
produce a bountiful harvest. So the trick here is to keep the faith, keep planting and then we will be free to
harvest in both the short term and long term. With our Baptism, God has cleared our fields ready for sowing.
What we grow and what we harvest are of our own doing.
When life hands us lemons, make lemonade and then give it away! For even in our curses we must
bless those around us to be blessed as fully as God intends us to be.