Reaping What We Sow
(Gal. 6:7-8)
Mike Johnson
Near the end of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, in a section of practical applications, Paul warned, “(7) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (8) 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” (Gal. 6:7-8).
The people Paul wrote to were part of an agrarian society. They would undoubtedly understand the principles of these verses from agriculture. If a farmer plants peas, for example, he will get a crop of peas, not corn. Likewise, a person who sows okra should not expect to get tomatoes. One does not have to be a farmer to understand this concept –– even a child quickly comprehends it. God Himself stated this universal principle of sowing and reaping in the very beginning (Gen. 1:11, 12, and 29). Paul’s application of this rule has some vital lessons for us today.
The Bible uses the word “sow” figuratively in various ways. For example, it refers to spreading God’s Word as in the Parable of the Sower (Lk. 8:3-9). Negatively, it speaks of one who “sows discord” (Prov. 6:14, 19). In our text, it represents deeds done in our lives.
Further, the text speaks of a person “sowing to his flesh.” Although the word “flesh” is used to refer to the literal body (Mt. 26:41) or relatives (Rom. 9:1-3), here it is speaking of the sinful desires of the flesh. Earlier, (Gal. 5:19-21) speaks of the works of the flesh (e.g., murder, envy, idolatry, adultery).” Romans 8:5a tells us, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh . . . .”
On the other hand, the verses speak of those who “sow to the Spirit.” These “walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16, 25),” they are “led by the Spirit,” and “live according to the Spirit” (Rom. 8:5b Gal. 5:25). Such people follow the teaching of the Holy Spirit found in God’s Word.
Today, everyone sows to either the flesh or the Spirit — if we live, we sow. A person may say, “I’ll choose the flesh because then I can drink, commit fornication, curse, and hate.” However, before people make a choice, they should consider their decision’s consequences.
Our text tells us that those who sow to the Spirit will reap “everlasting life.” Heaven, a place of joy, rest, and peace, will be their eternal reward (Mt. 25:46, Rom. 2:6a). In contrast, those who sow to the flesh shall reap “corruption.” The writer is not speaking of the body decaying, as that happens regardless. Instead, he indicates that these will be lost eternally. Their eternal destination will be the opposite of the everlasting life for those who sow to the Spirit. According to the previous chapter (5:21), those pursuing the flesh “will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Romans 8:6 states, “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
Returning to the first part of verse 7, Paul tells us not to be deceived and that “God is not mocked.” What does he mean by this statement? People around the world mock God every day. As you read this, someone living close to you probably mocks God. How would people mock God in this context? They successfully mock God if the opposite of what these verses say happens. If a person sows to the flesh and receives “everlasting life,” God is mocked. But that is not going to happen. Thus, if people sow to the flesh, no matter what they may think or say, they will reap corruption. We cannot mock God; we will reap what we sow!
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Understanding the Message
Greg Gwin
Did you hear about the fella who was discussing his recent visit to a church service? Someone asked him, “What did the preacher preach about?” To which he replied, “I don’t know. He didn’t say!”
There could be at least a couple of reasons why a person could attend a religious meeting and come away without having received a meaningful message. First, it might be that the listener didn’t do his job well. Perhaps he was distracted by other thoughts, and he daydreamed away the time while the preacher was trying to make his points. If this is the case, then more effort needs to be made to listen carefully, and to follow along with the sermon. It sometimes helps to take notes, and it certainly is helpful to look up Scripture references in your own Bible. Concentration is the key — and this is up to each individual hearer. Try to emulate the noble Bereans who “received the word with all readiness of mind” (Acts 17:11).
More often than not, the problem of a person not understanding the message lies with the speaker. It is the task of every preacher to work hard, prepare, plan, practice, and perform his duty in such a way to make his lesson plain and understandable.
Paul, though discussing the miraculous manifestation of tongue speaking, made a point that is applicable here. He asked: “If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” (1 Cor. 14:8). If the preacher doesn’t make his points clearly, and if people leave the assembly with doubts as to what was said or meant, then he has failed in his work.
The Jews who were returning from the captivity provide a great example for all of us (Neh. 8:1-8). “Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding . . . and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law . . .(Ezra) read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”
We all must do our part to make this important process work.
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What Would You Do?
For many years, a merchant conscientiously used a measure that did not meet the government standard. He was honest and had no intention of defrauding those who purchased from him. He took the word of the man who sold him the measure and never thought of having it tested. When the merchant passed on, his son’s attention was called to the fact that his father had unknowingly failed to give full measure to his customers. Could the son be honest and continue to use the measure?
Are your religious practices in harmony with the Bible, which is our standard? When you study the Bible and find that some practices of your loved ones did not come up to the standard, would you be honest if you continue as they did? The Word of God declares, “To him therefore that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin (James 4:17).
Author Unknown
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This May Shock You
Donnie Rader
This may shock you, but there are a number of things that the Bible does not teach that a multitude of people are not aware of.
- The Bible does not teach that one church is as good as another. Rather, the Bible says, “There is one body” (Ephesians 4:4). Christ only built one church. Are the ones He didn’t build just as good as the one He did build? That would make man’s works as good as God’s. Jesus said, “Every plant, which My heavenly Father has not planted, shall be rooted up” (Matthew 15:13). You see, Jesus didn’t seem to think that one church is as good as another.
- The Bible does not teach that Christ will return to earth to reign on a literal throne for 1,000 years. That would be a shocking fact for more than 80% of religious people. However, the verse that so teaches is yet to be found. I read, that when Christ comes again, that will be the end (1 Corinthians 15:23-24).
- The Bible doesn’t teach that Christ was born on December 25th. Neither does the Bible teach that there were three wise men.
- The Bible doesn’t teach that terms such as “Reverend,” “Pastor,” and “Father” should be applied to a preacher. The term “Reverend” is only used one time in the Bible, and that time it applies to God (Psalm 111:9, KJV). “Pastor” simply means one that is a shepherd over a flock. It is descriptive of an elder in the church that meets certain qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). Jesus condemned the use of such terms as “Father” in Matthew 23:1-12.
- The Bible teaches that only those who are the members of the body of Christ will be saved. I read that Christ is “the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). Thus, He only promises to save those in the body. His body and church are one and the same (Colossians 1:18). Thus, only those in His church, the church of Christ, will be saved (Romans 16:16). (If number five is a shocker, this will shock you more.)
- The Bible teaches that not all of those in the body of Christ will be eternally saved. I read how the faithful will receive a crown of life (Revelations 2:10). Some of those that were once sanctified by the blood of Christ will turn aside and be lost (Hebrews 10:26-29).
- The Bible teaches us that “rejoice” and “forgive one another” are commands of God (Philippians 4:4; Ephesians 4:32). These are not just suggestions that will make us better people. Neither is there an option to choose or not to choose. These are commands! Violating them is sin (1 John 3:4). To sin is to separate oneself from God (Isaiah 59:1-2).
- The Bible teaches that “faith” is a work (John 6:29). If we are saved by faith only, we are saved by a work. If works do not save us at all, then we are not saved by faith.
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Brief Exhortations
“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.” (Gal. 6:7-8)
A farmer posted a “No Trespassing” sign to keep the neighborhood boys from crossing his property. One embittered young man vowed revenge. One night he walked all over the man’s farm with a sack of Johnson Grass seed and sowed it in every field. Johnson Grass spreads rapidly and is a weed that is almost impossible to eradicate.
A few years later, the boy married the farmer’s only daughter. In a short time, the old man died, and the boy inherited the farm. He spent the rest of his life fighting Johnson Grass.
We reap what we sow both physically and spiritually, both now and in eternity.
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Compiled and/or written by David J. Riggs |
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Sermon
How to Have a Happy Family
(9-18-88)
Sam Binkley Jr.
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Editor: Mike Johnson
www.seekingthingsabove.org