Sowing and Reaping

Sowing and Reaping

“Sowing and Reaping”
(Galatians 6:6-10)
Series: Set Free To Be Free (Galatians)

Rev. Todd A. Linn, PhD

Henderson’s First Baptist Church, Henderson

Take your Bibles and join me this morning in Galatians, chapter 6.

After setting forth the truth that man is saved not by his works, but by grace through faith in Christ alone—teaching this largely in chapters 1 through 4—the Apostle Paul in chapter 5 then exhorts believers to walk in the freedom of the Spirit so as to not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

This walking in the Spirit, being led by the Spirit, bearing fruit of the Spirit, is still much on the apostle’s mind in chapter 6. And nearing the end of the letter, Paul continues to write about living out the Christian faith in practical ways.

I’m going to read verses 6-10 and I invite you to listen for a general principle that runs through this passage, verses 6 through 10 of Galatians, Chapter 6.

Please stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word.

6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
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.
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Prayer.

Did you hear the general principle in these verses? It’s stated in the second part of verse 7, it’s this statement: “whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Sowing leads to reaping. This is a truth that comes from the agricultural world. A farmer sows or plants a certain seed and that seed will produce a certain harvest. If he sows the seed of corn, he will reap a harvest of corn. If he sows tomato seeds, he will reap a harvest of tomatoes.

This is the principle of seedtime and harvest. You may remember that after the flood God promised Noah that He would never again destroy every living thing as He had done. And then God said, “While earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease (Genesis 8:22).”

The principle—or law really—of seedtime and harvest is the assurance that God will continue to sustain His creation in predictable fashion until the final state of the new creation. Until then, as long as we live on this planet, we can expect seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night.

Now the Bible applies this law of seedtime and harvest to the spiritual realm. Just as one sows seed in the physical world and reaps a harvest according to the seed sown, so it is true in the spiritual and moral realm.

Job 4:8, for example, says “Those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.” Sowing seeds of sin and sorrow produces a harvest of sin and sorrow. Sowing and reaping.

The prophet Hosea rebukes the Israelites for their turning away from God and says in Hosea 8:7, “They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind.” That’s a way of saying, “You sow seeds of disobedience, you’re gong to reap a harvest of destruction.” Sowing and reaping.

The Apostle Paul here in verses 6 through 10, applies the law of sowing and reaping to three particular areas, namely the Word, our Walk, and our Works. So these three areas form our outline this morning. See this with me today. First:

**Sowing and Reaping Applied to Three Areas:

I. The Word (6)

The Bible. Look again at verse 6: “Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.”

This law of sowing and reaping applied to the Word. It may not be immediately evident from reading verse 6 alone. The sharing in “all good things” with the one who teaches could refer to the Spiritual blessings and benefits of the things learned from teaching the Word.

Many of you know the joy of teaching the Bible to someone you are discipling or maybe as you facilitate a small group, you have been studying the Word and learning “all good things” the Word reveals. And you teach that to another person and they “share in all good things” with you.

And while that is true, most Bible interpreters understand verse 6 as referring not to spiritual blessings, but material blessings that one shares with the teacher: “Let him who is taught the word share (that is, the one being taught shares) in all good things (sharing material things) with the one who teaches.” The NIV is helpful here: “Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the Word should share all good things with their instructor.”

So the Apostle is instructing the churches in Galatia to support her teachers, to support them materially, whether financially, or through food or some other kind of blessing. Context also suggests this interpretation, given that Paul has just written about the work of ministry in the preceding couple verses, writing how each person is responsible for whatever talents and abilities God has given him in his work for the Lord. And in the greater context of bearing burdens, helping others out, as we studied last time, Paul is calling here in verse 6 for the helping out of one’s teacher through material support.

Paul has called for supporting preachers and teachers elsewhere, using agrarian terminology. You see it in 1 Timothy 5:17-18, “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,’ and the laborer is worthy of his wages.”

Interesting that Paul refers to the preacher as an ox—not sure what to make of that! But you see the principle there. Those who partake of the harvest of the Word should support the ox who treads out the grain, providing teaching. Compensate the ox, or in the words of Jesus, the laborer is worthy of his wages.

Even clearer is Paul’s writing to the Corinthian church where he argues in 1 Corinthians 9:11, “If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?”

And again: 1 Corinthians 9:14, “Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.”

Sowing and reaping applied to the Word: “Let him who is taught the Word (the one reaping the harvest of the Word) share in all things with him who teaches (the one sowing the seed of the Word).”

I don’t know that there was a problem in the churches in Galatia or whether the apostle is merely reminding the churches to support their teachers. In any case, those who are called to teach the Word of God to the local church are to be supported materially by those who receive the instruction.

God has blessed our church here with the grace of applying this principle for a number of years. Our church staff serves the Lord and is blessed to be freed up from secular vocational support in order to spend time in prayer and ministry of the Word through the church. Thank God for a church that seeks to live in accordance with this principle. Sowing and reaping applied to the Word. Second area, sowing and reaping applied to:

II. Our Walk (7-8)

Verses 7 and 8 refer to our Christian walk, our lifestyle, our living out of the Christian faith. And these two verses refer primarily to the matter of our walking in holiness. This is the Christian’s greatest and most important duty after trusting Jesus as Lord and Savior. All of our life is to be lived out in personal holiness. Let’s look at these two verses again together, before addressing them individually, verses 8 and 9:

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.

Recalling the previous teachings in chapter 5, our walk in the Lord, our living out our faith, will go in one of two directions: either we will walk in the Spirit and so bear the fruit of the Spirit, or we’ll walk in the flesh, and so fulfill the works of the flesh.

Remember that the word “flesh” here does not refer to skin, but to our lower nature, our old self; that sin nature. If we have come to Christ, believing Him to be Savior, and receiving Him as Lord, then we have a new nature, too, praise God! But sin remains. And while sin remains, it no longer reigns, no longer reigning as a dominant force.

I was reflecting yesterday on the hymn “Turn your eyes upon Jesus” and there’s that verse: “Through death into life everlasting He passed and we followed Him there; Over us sin no more hath dominion for more than conquerors we are.” Over us sin no more hath dominion. Sin no longer reigns. Praise the Lord!

But the sin nature is still there and it is dying a slow death. Recall Galatians 5:24, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” When we said “Yes” to Jesus, we said “No” to the old us, the lower nature, the sin nature, we crucified it. And we must go on saying “Yes” to Jesus and “No” to sin every day of our lives. And the more we do this, the more power and freedom we have as we are walking in the Spirit and not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh.

This ongoing saying yes and no is the ongoing sowing of the Spirit and refusing to sow to the flesh. This is sowing and reaping applied to our walk. “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.” Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Paul writes with eternity in view. He writes to describe where this habitual pattern of sowing finally leads. Apart from Christ we will go on sowing to the flesh, living in sin, and we will reap the expected harvest of “corruption,” verse 8, a word also translated “destruction” or “decay and death.” If you do not turn from sin in repentance and turn to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you will remain in sin and your sin will lead to a harvest of corruption, decay, and death—final death—separated from God forever in hell as just punishment for your rebellion in sin.

On the other hand, if you choose to receive the light of Christ shining upon you, as God in His grace makes Himself known to you and you repent of sin, and believe that He lived for you and died for you and you can be forgiven in Him—and only in Him—and trust Him, then “through death into life everlasting He passed and you follow Him there.” Life. Sowing and reaping applied to our walk. “He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

Now, think how this principle applies to your ongoing walk, Christian. Paul warns in verse 7, “Do not be deceived.” Don’t deceive yourself. Remember how he had said that already back in verse 3: “For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” The idea is, “Don’t kid yourself.”

Verse 7, “Do not be deceived (don’t kid yourself), God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Paul says, “God is not mocked.” The word “mocked” there is a word in the original is a word referring to the nose. Applied here it means “to turn up the nose” at someone. We do this when we think we’re better than another or when we’ve gotten the better of another, like getting away with something. It’s like saying, “I can fool you.”

Paul warns: You can’t fool God. You may fool others, you may fool yourself, but you will never fool God. Applied to personal holiness, daily walking, walking either in the Spirit or in the flesh, Paul addresses those who think they can sow to the flesh and get away with it.

Like saying, “a little sin never hurt anyone. Nobody knows anyway. And if I sow enough good stuff, then the bad stuff I’m sowing really won’t amount to much.” Paul has an answer for that kind of wrong thinking: verse 7, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

It would seem foolish, wouldn’t it, for a farmer to sow seeds of corn, expecting a harvest of tomatoes? Wouldn’t that seem foolish? You always harvest what you plant. If you sow to the flesh, and begin to indulge the lower nature, the old sin nature, the old self, you will reap a harvest of corruption. You always harvest what you plant.

The Israelites sowed seeds of idolatry and reaped the horrible harvest of being beaten time and again by their enemies and lost their place in the promised land.

Wicked Hamaan sowed the seed of pride and reaped the gruesome harvest of losing his head.

Jonah sowed the seed of rebellion and reaped the harvest of being flung into the sea only to be rescued by a big fish who swallowed him, giving him time to rethink his actions.

King Saul sowed the seed of jealousy and reaped a terrible harvest of a man who lost peace of mind and his position as king.

David sowed the seed of impure thoughts and reaped the shame and guilt of his actions and the consequences of death to the child conceived through his sin.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Sowing and reaping applied to the Word, sowing and reaping applied to our Walk. Thirdly, sowing and reaping applied to:

III. Our Works (9-10)

Verses 9 and 10 refer to our good works that we do as followers of Jesus Christ. Look at both these verses again:

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

When we speak of the Christian’s works we are referring to those things he or she does after conversion, as an evidence of conversion. These are not works offered in order to earn conversion. We cannot earn acceptance with God by our good works.

Ephesians 2:8-9, “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Salvation is “not of works,” but “by grace…through faith.” Having said that, the Apostle goes on in the very next verse—Ephesians 2:10—to write of the Christian’s works after conversion, after he or she has been saved, as an evidence of true conversion. Verse 10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

We don’t do works to earn our salvation. We do good works once we have received salvation. It’s a natural byproduct of being saved, an evidence of being saved. We live our lives a thank you note to God for His saving us.

So Paul encourages believers in verse 9, “Don’t grow weary while doing good,” don’t lose heart! Hang in there! Sowing and reaping applied to our works. Here it is: “For in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Whatever work you are doing for the Lord, hang in there! Don’t lose heart! It’s easy to become discouraged in work for the Lord. We are always battling the enemy. Persevere! It will pay off. You will, “In due season…reap!”

You started off serving the Lord with such enthusiasm—teaching that Sunday school class, doing that missional work, studying your Bible, having your DQ, time of daily quiet, sharing the gospel with that coworker, pointing your friends to Jesus—don’t lose heart! In “due season,” at just the right time, you “shall reap.”

It’s like the farmer who has sown seeds in his field. Nothing happens. Days, weeks, nothing. Then, in due season, the blades come up, the stalk, the head, the harvest. You may be sowing seeds of spiritual work in the kingdom and you’re wondering whether God sees or anything is ever going to come of it. Seems like nothing’s happening! Well, “in due season you shall reap.” God sees and God knows, and God rewards.

Remember 2 Corinthians 4:17: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory…”

10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Do good to all—including unbelievers. But “do good…especially to those who are of the household of faith,” those who belong to the kingdom of God, the “household of faith,” the family of God.

Why? Because they are your brothers and sisters. You have a greater love for those who are your family than those who are not. And by your doing good to the household of faith, you are showing you are true followers, true disciples, of Jesus Christ, the One who said in

John 13:35, By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

Sowing and reaping applied to our works—helping others, providing for others, caring for others, witnessing to others, sharing the gospel with others—and loving our brothers and sisters by bearing their burdens, helping them carry weights they cannot carry alone.

Sowing and reaping. I leave you with these:

**Two Undeniable Truths:

1) We are Always Sowing Something

Every moment of every day we are either walking in the Spirit or walking in the flesh. We are every moment either sowing good seed or bad seed. Every moment. Second truth follows the first truth:

2) We Will Reap Some Kind of Harvest

And that harvest will be directly related to what we sowed. It’s undeniable isn’t it? I mean if all I eat are Krispy Kreme donuts—and that’s all I eat, and I eat a dozen for breakfast, a dozen for lunch, and a dozen for dinner—what am I going to reap? Kind of gross, isn’t it?! Especially over time, the harvest I reap will be a harvest of corruption and destruction.

We are always sowing something and so we will reap some kind of harvest.

I sow to the flesh when I…

Allow a bitter spirit to be comfortable in my heart. Reap bitterness. Miserable.

Allow myself to “fly off the handle.” Reap responsibility for hurting someone.

Allow impure thoughts to be comfortable in my head. Reap sexual immorality. It will happen! Emerson rightly said, “A man is what he thinks about all day long.” Men, don’t toy with this one. “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” So don’t kid yourself. Don’t be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Allow anger towards a loved one to fester in my heart. Reap a broken relationship, distance between my children, or my spouse.

Fail to take care of my body and become undisciplined in my eating or leisure. Reap an unhealthy, unproductive lifestyle.

Fail to have my DQ, my time of Daily Quiet with the Lord and His Word. Reap a disorganized day driven by a disorganized heart.

We are always sowing something, therefore we will reap some kind of harvest. It’s the old saying: “Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”

Now, it would be bad if we heard that only in the negative. The bad. Sowing to the flesh. But that saying also applies to the positive, the good, sowing to the Spirit.

Fortunately, we are not left just dangling in the wind, victims of our unfortunate upbringing or environment, with no hope of improvement. We have the Spirit of God in us and a love for Jesus! So our character can change!! Praise God.

Sow to the Spirit, set your mind on things above (Colossians 3:2), get in the Word every day, read the Bible, spend time with Jesus during your DQ, Daily Quiet, and throughout the day! Talk to Him, love Him, trust Him, believe in Him, spend time with Him—and you will reap abundant and everlasting life!

I’m inviting you to respond this morning to the truth we have read and heard. Maybe your week didn’t go so well last week, walking in the Spirit. You say, “I’m afraid I sowed to the flesh and fulfilled the lusts of the flesh.” Turn to Jesus this morning. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Repent.

If God has prevented your falling further into sin by exposing your behavior in some way, thank Him for it. Say, “Thank you for keeping me from falling further.” Then in the grace and comfort of the cross, through the never-ending power of the gospel, take more of the water of life. God loves you and died for that sin. Accept His forgiveness and move on.

We’re going to sing our hymn of invitation and response. God is inviting us—every single one of us in the room—God is inviting us to respond to His Word.

Some of you want to join the church, or be baptized, you come during this time and I’ll meet you up front here. Others of you want to come for prayer or you want to follow Jesus and you have questions. Right after we pray, I’m inviting you to come.

Pray: “We turn our eyes to You, Jesus. We thank you that through death into life everlasting You passed, and we follow You there. And over us sin no more has dominion for more than conquerors we are. Help us walk in the victory and power of the gospel by sowing not to the flesh, but to the Spirit. Amen.”

O soul, are you wearied and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s light for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting He passed and we followed Him there; Over us sin no more hath dominion for more than conquerors we are.

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