What We Sow

Galatians 6:6–10 (NIV84)

6 Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

We are told that we reap, “WHAT” we sow. That “WHAT” could mean many different things.

You cannot lie about your seed for too long. You could say that your faith is the most important aspect of your life—but if you are receiving destruction then the seed was not what you sowed.

You can’t say you love God and never read His Word

You can’t say God is first and not give the Tithe and Offering

The “WHAT” will be revealed in the harvest

Sow a thought, reap an act.

Sow an act, reap a habit.

Sow a habit, reap a character.

Sow a character, reap a destiny.

Samuel Smiles; David Platt; Tony Merida; Peter Adam; John Robert Walmsley Stott (English Preacher)

1. The Principle of Correspondence

A. Spiritual seeds produce spiritual harvests

Galatians 6:8 “8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

B. Financial seeds produce financial harvests

Luke 6:38 “38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.””

C. Relational seeds produce relational harvests

Proverbs 18:24 “24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

2. The Power of Intentional Sowing

Being intentional means making deliberate choices to reflect what is most important to us

A. Sowing good deeds

Colossians 3:23–24 “23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

B. Sowing words of encouragement

Proverbs 16:24 “24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

C. Sowing acts of kindness

Ephesians 4:32 “32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

3. The Consequences of Negative Sowing

A. Sowing dissension reaps strife

Proverbs 6:16–19 “16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.”

B. Sowing selfishness reaps isolation

James 3:16 “16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”

C. Sowing unforgiveness reaps bitterness

Hebrews 12:15 “15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

4. Your Payday is coming

Your harvest is on the way.

A. Sowing love reaps love

1 John 4:7 “7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”

B. Sowing peace reaps righteousness

James 3:18 “18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”

C. Sowing generously reaps abundance

2 Corinthians 9:6 “6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”