The Principle of Sowing and Reaping

Reading: Pro 1:24-33

Intro: Most people understand the physical principle of sowing and reaping. A farmer sows a crop with the understanding that he is going to reap from it. No normal thinking farmer would go through the cost, effort and time to plant seed in the ground unless he thought he was going to get reap the crop for which he was sowing the seed. In addition, no farmer sows without expecting to reap more than he sowed. When the farmer sows the seed in the ground he doesn't expect to only reap about the same amount he sowed. He wouldn't plant fifty pounds of seed thinking he was only going to get fifty pounds of produce. He expects to reap far more than sowed. Finally, the farmer sows expects that others will also reap from what he sowed, whether his family, other with whom he may share and those who will purchase it.

The spiritual principle of sowing and reaping is similar. In our study we will realize:

  1. WE WILL REAP WHAT WE SOW
    1. We have reached a time in which men as a whole, have come to regard God lightly, fear not that they have transgressed God's law, and disregard thoughts of the judgment.
    2. In writing about the need to physically support those that on a full-time basis benefit us spiritually, the apostle Paul pointed out the principle of sowing in reaping (Gal 6:7).
      1. Many think they can ignore God's warnings against disobedience; that is that they can sow to the flesh but they won't reap negatively from their actions.
      2. As we will realize, such people are wrong on this point.
      3. It will do no good to sow to the flesh but unlike the farmer, hope for crop failure.
    3. God is omnipotent; that is, he knows all things, so we need to understand that we can't hide anything from him.
      1. He knows about the sins you committed yesterday and the sins you have committed so far today.
      2. Don't allow yourself to be deceived for God is not mocked.
        1. Though we may ignore him, as a just God he can't ignore our sin.
        2. Many people, mostly the young, seem to think that they can sow their wild oats with impunity.
          1. Perhaps you're one such person (Gal 5:17-21).
          2. Some people drink alcohol, ingest tobacco products or some other non-prescribed drug and think to themselves, it may affect others but it will never affect them until they become addicts, even ruin their bodies.
          3. Some people will give themselves to lust and think it will never affect them until they become entrapped in pornography or flirtatious behavior with other people that will put up with it. Frequently, the end of it will be a ruined reputation, even a broken family.
          4. Some people will involve themselves in fornication and think it will never affect them until the girl becomes pregnant, contact a venereal disease or ruin their reputations. Girls remember that most men, though they may not be virgins themselves, want to marry a virgin.
          5. Some people will give themselves to a career in pursuit of fame, fortune and power - materialism, thinking they will play catch up later on with others things ignored (cp. Luk 16:20-31; Jam 4:14).
          6. Some people think they can think hateful thoughts about others, even voice that hatred without bringing hatred upon themselves (Pro 13:3; 18:7)
        3. With the spiritual principle, perhaps more than from the illustration with the farmer, we will understand that the type of seed that we sow determines the type of harvest that we reap.
          1. We understand this in the physical realm (Gen 1:11-12, 20-21, 24-25).
            1. If we ask a gardener busy sowing a particular type of seeds in the newly prepared soil of a garden, what the gardener expected the seeds to produce, the gardener would be able to tell you.
            2. It is common knowledge that the produce from the seeds planted will be of the kind as the seed which was sowed.
            3. If turnip seeds were sown, then turnips will be expected in reaping, not potatoes or corn.
          2. Similarly, in the spiritual realm, if you sow your wild oats you will reap the same type of harvest.
          3. As Paul pointed out if we sow to the flesh we will reap from the flesh(Hos 8:7; Gal 6:8a).
            1. Sowing to the flesh is spending time, energy and on self-gratification one's body, outside of what is proper.
              1. Elsewhere this idea of sowing to the flesh is expressed
              2. as "walks after the flesh (Rom 8:4); "mind the things of the flesh" (Rom 8:5);
            2. If we sow to the flesh we should think that we are going to reap from the Spirit (consider Rom 6:11-16).
          4. We may go ahead and sow to the flesh anyway but if we do:
            1. We will face consequences either now or
            2. We will face God's wrath for it later, perhaps both (Col 3:25; 2 Pe 3:3-11).
      3. The account of Joseph and his mistreatment he received at the hand of his brothers, than his brothers eventually falling into his hands, well portrays the fact that God is not mocked. What we sow we will reap, and our sin will be uncovered (Gen 42).
      4. Achan tried to mock God by concealing his sin from others but God was not mocked (Jos 7).
      5. King David lusted and fornicated with Bathsheba, who was married to Uriah and she became pregnant. David tried to make it look as though Uriah got his wife pregnant but when his plans failed, David had Uriah murdered and married Bathsheba (2 Sa 11:1-28). God sent the prophet Nathan to David who proclaimed, "Thou art the man" (2Sa 12:1-15).
      6. The Principle Illustrated - Ahab and Naboth's vineyard (1Ki 21-22).
        1. Ahab wanted to purchase Naboth's vineyard but Naboth didn't want to sell it. When Ahab became sorrowful over not having his own way his wife Jezebel arranged to have Naboth killed. When Jesebel told Ahab Naboth was dead, Ahab joyfully went to take possession of Naboth's vineyard (1Ki 21:1-16).
        2. However, God sent the prophet Elijah to inform Ahab that his life would be forfeited on the same place where Naboth was murdered. Ahab became sick over it, humbled himself in repentance and God delayed Ahab's judgment (1Ki 21:27-29).
        3. Later a war began between Syria and Ahab, King of Israel. He invited of Judah to help fight against Syria (1Ki 22:1-29). Ahab would not accept the prophet Micaiah's prophesy that Ahab would not return safely from the battle. Ahab thought himself cleaver and able to outwit God. Ahab thought that in battle they would go for the king so he convinced Jehoshaphat to wear the royal robes while Ahab clothed himself as a common soldier. However a man shot an arrow at chance and the arrow struck Ahab giving him a death blow. Ahab learned that God is not mocked.
      7. Gehazi, Elisha's servant, tried to gain a personal profit by lying but God was not mocked (2 Kings 5:20-27).
      8. Ananias and Sapphira tried to mock God over vain glory and it caused them their death (Acts 5:1-11).
      9. Brethren be certain that your sins will find your out for God is not mocked (1o 3:5-9).
        1. Paul wrote that God, "... will render to every man according to his deeds" (Rom 2:6).
        2. Trying to mock God will result in death (Rom 6:23a).
      Transition: In sowing, such people don't think they will reap more than they sowed. As we will realize, such people are wrong on this point.


  2. WE WILL REAP MORE THAN WE SOW
    1. Fornicators don't count on a baby, or disease, drug users and gamblers don't count on addiction
    2. In sowing some people don't think others will reap from what was sowed. As we will realize, such people are wrong on this point.


  3. WE WILL SEE OTHERS REAP FROM WHAT WE SOW
    1. The principle of sowing and reaping teaches us that there is always a lag-period between sowing and reaping.
      1. We may sow to the flesh and when we're done observe no readily visible sign that anything else other than our pleasure as reaped.
      2. Over and over in the Old Testament we read of one generation reaping and ungodly example from the generation before them.
    2. A man of position and means married and later his wife gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. He used to take her in my arms and hug her with great joy. One day he noticed something wrong with the child and took her to a specialist. After the examination, the dad was led to a private room and ask of his behavior before marrying his wife. The dad was embarrassed to reveal that he had lived a wicked life before marrying. Then the doctor explained that the disease affecting the little girl was the harvest of a wicked life style. The little girl was to have to face a life with a decrepit body [1] [adapted]
    3. A man who was traveling around the world stopped one day at Thursday Island. Not far from there was a leper colony. He was told a story of a little boy and girl who were lepers and lived not far from Thursday Island, Their parents were wealthy but because of the disease it was decided that the family had to live alone on another island. The children had contacted the disease due to their mother. The mother, with her love of social position, thought the cares of motherhood too heavy, so she had a another woman to care for her children who unknowingly was leprous. [1]
    4. Be not deceived. God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.


Conclusion: You are sowing but what will you reap as a harvest? Are you mocking God by thinking that you will escape the harvest of your sowing.

Psa 126:5-6

Parents don't tolerate your children's mocking God with their behavior. Rather, discipline them for their own spiritual well being, even if it causes discomfort in the home.

Young people don't get caught in the trap of hypocrisy; acting one way in front of your friends, but differently in front of your parents or other Christians. Remember the habits your form now may follow you all your life.

If heaven is what you want as the outcome of your sowing in life, walk by the Spirit. If you have been mocking God, stop today. Repent, for if you are a Christian, he will forgive you. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (Isa 55:7).

Sources:
David Gibson, Bakersfield gospel meeting April 29, 2004
[1] J. Wilbur Chapman, Sowing and Reaping, Evangelistic Sermons, New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1922. Chapter 4

In charity through Christ,
Raymond Wiseman

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