by Clint Brown
A popular teaching of the New Testament is the principle that "you reap what you sow." Paul told the Corinthian brethren that "he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" (II Cor. 9:6). God is able to supply your every need so you don't ever have to worry about giving "too much." Jesus reminded us of this principle when he said "Give and it shall be given to you . . . with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. (Lk. 6:38). This "cause and effect" relationship between behavior and benefit is powerfully taught throughout the Bible. Consider these truths:
Sowing to spirituality reaps spiritual rewards. Paul wrote to the brethren in the Galatian region and encouraged them to generously support those who teach and preach God's word among them (Gal. 6:6). He explains that if their mind and money are in support of spiritual things they would reap great spiritual benefits. "For he who sows to flesh will . . . reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will . . . reap everlasting life" (Gal. 6:8). While we are to accept this particular law of "cause and effect" simply because God said it is so, anyone who has practiced it has proven it over and over. If we give freely to others, God will give more to us so we can give more to others and the cycle goes on and on. What a great God we have above – what woes unto them who never know the joy of freely giving.
Sowing sin reaps sorrow (Prov. 22:8). The prophet Hosea addressed a rebellious Israel and pronounced judgment on their land. They had trusted in their earthly allies to deliver them instead of their all-powerful God. Hosea explained that they had "sown the wind" and they would reap the whirlwind of God's wrath (Hos. 8:7). The divine principle of sowing and reaping works both ways. The Roman letter explains the same end to those who sow their own pride and rebellion. Paul taught that "in accordance with" the Jews' hard and impenitent heart they were "treasuring up" the wrath of God. After all, God will "render to each one according to his deeds" (Rom. 2:5-6). Note the phrase "in accordance with." This shows that to the extent the Jews refused God's goodness they would reap His righteous indignation (Rom. 2:8).
It's not enough to just sit by and let the great opportunities for good go unheeded. We must take every advantage of sowing spiritual appetites both in ourselves and in our fellow man. God's pure-positive law of "reaping what you sow" is as constant and steadfast as the immutability of His nature. Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Reprinted from http://calera.cjb.net.
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