April 22, 2023
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.
-Galatians 6:7-9
You get what you sow. It is also a truth in farming that you get more than you sow. Each kernel of corn planted is intended to bring up 2-3 ears of corn. So be careful what you sow! That’s not the Thought for today, however. Please consider the last verse’s truth for your life and ministry.
Some things just take time. Consider the farmer. He may start as a sharecropper, working the land for the privilege of living in the house and receiving 40% of the income from the fields he works. He plows and plants in the Spring, uses a cultivator to kill weeds and loosen the soil between the rows over the summer, and then works to harvest and sell the crop in the Fall and gets less than half of the income for his work.
He may work his way into a better farm to sharecrop with a better house and higher percentage of the income. He saves his money to buy better equipment and maybe even some land of his own. We’ve even known a few who through dedication, hard work, good budgeting and the Lord’s blessing ended life owning a farm that could provide for their own wealth and that of their children for generations to come. That was great!
Many others tried and gave up. My Dad being one of those. He always had to work another job and never got above the “40%” and drafty old house. That’s a big reason none of his children took up farming! It takes a lot of effort to make it in farming. The work can wear you out and even kill you! It is a dangerous business.
God promises if you continue to do well, building your life on His Word brick by brick, day by day, that you will see a crop. We must not faint in the process. Do your actions show you believe that today?
Trials are sometimes used as the excuses to quit. I’ve recently heard of two men, angry at God and refusing to go to church or participate in Bible reading and prayer. Their wives died and they won’t forgive God for taking them. You may find that crazy, but what’s stopping you? What is it that wearies you from prayer, bible reading, applying Scripture to your daily life, or, shall we say, laying another brick or two in your testimony?
A friend told me he avoids a special service his church has once a year with another church due to one of their members acting terrible towards him at a job in the past. “He didn’t act like a Christian! I just don’t want to be around him so I don’t come when he’s going to be there.” The other guy had no idea his attitude and words made a lasting impression! We can’t grow too weary to live humbly, meekly, showing patience and mercy to people. We need God’s strength and direction every day!
Did you note my friend’s issue above? While a brother didn’t act like a Christian by his action, is the other acting like a Christian by his continued response? We can grow weary in a variety of ways. Working out our salvation with fear and trembling involves a variety of areas of consideration. A house typically has four sides but may have extensions, porches, bay windows, etc. that demand special attention. We can’t just focus on building one side of our house – one area of our testimony – and leave the rest unattended to.
Some ministers work hard to build up their organization but not their home/family. Others become great pulpiteers but selfish, dictatorial leaders wringing everything they can get out of people for a time and then tossing them aside rather than working to disciple and build individuals with their ministry. Don’t grow weary when you have to work on the things that “I’m not good at.” The whole house is important and needs work!
You reap what you sow, more than you sow, but it takes time, patience, and God’s direction to reap the best harvest. Don’t trade God’s way for a quicker appearance of success. Remember the foolish man built too!