The Law of Sowing and Reaping.

The law of sowing and reaping is one of those biblical themes that spans the whole of scripture. From the beginning of Genesis, where God emphasizes that everything produces seed and fruit after its own kind, to the final book in the Bible, where men reap in due season what they have sown in their lives, the simple idea of reaping and sowing is underscored in the word of God.

We often think of this law in the sense that God will not be fooled, a man WILL reap what he has sown. In regard to that principle, wise parents and teachers warn our young people that if you sow the wild oats you will reap the whirlwind. However, this isn't the whole of the concept. There is a positive aspect to the law of sowing and reaping as well. If you sow in righteousness you will reap in blessings. Therefore, we advise others as well as ourselves, live faithfully and righteously and you will reap the benefits and blessings of walking with God.

For much of my life these two principles have been the foundation for my understanding of the law of sowing and reaping. However, recently, I have become aware of another simple truth contained within this timeless law. There is a statutory, binding, aspect to this simple law in both the physical and natural realms. It is simply this: Where you sow you will reap. The converse is equally true: Where there is no sowing there will be no reaping.

Why does this matter? Because, the law of sowing and reaping pertains to much more than just judgment and blessing. This simple governing principle that God put in place from the beginning emphasizes the fact that where there is sowing, of any kind, there will be reaping, of the same kind. If you sow wheat you will reap wheat. Ask any farmer. Where wheat is sown, it produces after its own kind. Even in lean years, even in times of drought, at least a portion of what is sown results in a harvest.

Jesus touches this principle in several ways in the gospels. In a notable example, He told a great crowd in Luke 8 a parable about a sower that went forth to sow seed. Later, as He explained the parable, he told the disciples that the seed is the word of God. He then underscored the simple truth behind the law of sowing and reaping, if you sow you will reap. Not every soul that hears the word will receive it and bear fruit, however, if you are faithful in sowing you will be faithfully rewarded in reaping.

Perhaps this is why Paul told the Corinthians that one plants, another waters but God gives the increase. Because there is a statutory aspect to the law. If you will sow, you will reap. You and I don't create the harvest, we only sow the seed. God gives the increase. By god's own law, if we sow faithfully, sooner or later there will be a harvest where the seed is sown.

With this principle in mind I have found myself coming back to a simple theme over the last six weeks. With the image of Psalm 126 in my mind I have constantly reminded the church that "he that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

I am persuaded that the harvest is in our hands! Revival is ours to have. We have, within our possession, the powerfully fruitful word of God and the law is steadfast. If we will sow it faithfully and indiscriminately in accordance with the example of the word of God, we cannot help but reap a harvest in due season.

I am reminded that a farmer once admonished me, "seed is cheap, sow it." It costs us little to share the benefits and blessings of the gospel but it gains us much in terms of harvest. I fully believe that we will each experience a revival that is directly proportionate to the amount of sowing that we have been engaged in.

I simply want to encourage you to sow the seed. Share the word of God. Share the blessings and promises of God. Tell anyone that will listen just how good your God is. The key to reaping lies in the sowing. Let me encourage you, friend, don't grow weary in well doing, if you are faithful, in due season you will reap a harvest. Your efforts are not in vain. They can't be in vain. Where there is sowing, there will be reaping, God's law requires it!