Spiritual Farmers Galatians 6:6-10

Forgive me if I seem a little stiff. Outside yesterday, Changed the oil in the lawn mower. Working in the garden. Planting, running a roto tiller. Love this time of year. Love getting outside. I really love putting in a garden. There is a farmer in me somewhere, I just absolutely love it.

I have a compost pile that I am bordering a little crazy about. If I see orange peels or egg shells in the trash I get a little upset. But I am in my own little world a farmer.

And this got me thinking because as Christians, we need to understand that in a very real sense we are farmers.

That makes me happy because of my love for growing things, I like planting trees, honestly I even like planting flowers.

We in a very real sense we are farmers. That makes me happy because of my love for growing things, I like planting trees, honestly I even like planting flowers.

I love the fact that when we see things grow, it is actually God who causes things to grow on a very deep level. Don’t roll your eyes, even in your head. I know that sunlight and minerals and co2 and water have a part to play, but underneath all of that is the miracle that God has His hand in nature to grow something that sustains us.

Yeah, maybe it seems like that is a little bit over the top but we need to remember the part that God plays in this whole world. He didn’t wind it up and let it go, He has a continual involvement in the world today.

Colossians 1:17 ESV

17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

God is involved. And God has set up some laws of nature that we can count on. Meaning that when I placed those onion bulbs in the ground that in a few months I am going to get onions. When I put a pepper plant in the ground I am going to get peppers. God set up this world to have an order about it which lets me know that I will get out of what I put in the ground.

We know what we are going to get out of a plant by what we plant. The bible uses the word sow.

And this takes us where we are going today. Look at your bibles at

the sowing that we are doing now is going to have a terrific consequence which may be profitable for us, or devastating for us.

Your job is to sow

English Standard Version Chapter 6

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith

Now to be honest, this can potentially be a little awkward for any pastor to teach because what is going on here is Paul is talking about the fact that those who are in a position of teaching the church should be paid for what they are doing. Paul was not their regular pastor, he wasn’t always there. There were teachers that would be there who were dedicated to preaching and teaching and Paul is letting the congregation know that the one who teaches also has to eat, also has to be able to pay their bills.

But the focus that Paul has is not on the one who receives, the focus is on the one’s who give.

Even though the context of what Paul is saying here has to do with the sharing of resources to the one who teaches, it has a much wider principle and application attached to it.

You will reap what you sow. We hear that most of the time in such negative terms that we automatically cringe, but reaping what we sow can be a great thing too. But we will sow something, whether it is something good or something bad.

Paul is talking about the teachers of the church. He isn’t referring to himself, but he is saying that if someone is learning the scriptures, seeking God’s face and that they are doing this full-time that they are missing out on earning a wage and should be compensated for what they do.

You see we are all spiritual farmers. Some of you didn’t know this but you are farmer. You are a spiritual farmer, the only question is what is it that you plant? The bible word again is sow, we have a modern term that goes along with this. Investing...

Where do you invest? We are all spiritual farmers or spiritual investors. Are we investing in those who are teaching us? Are we investing in things that are eternal?

Or are we investing in us? Both of those investments have returns, or results that are attached to them.

v 7 says God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, they will also reap”

This means, Don’t kid yourself, you will not be able to get one over on God. This is no joke.

Galatians: An Introduction and Commentary g. Sowing and Reaping (6:7–10)

Make no mistake about this: you cannot turn up your nose at God. A person will harvest exactly what he sows.

Spiritual Farming

Galatians 6:8 ESV

8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

We are ALL Spiritual farmers. And you, we are all sowing, or investing in something. So what does that mean?

1. Spiritual Farmers Sow Something. (It’s intentional)

When you make a garden you prepare the soil, you are laying everything out, you till the ground, you add compost or whatever, but you start a process you start a process that can be difficult. It can be hard. You come against obstacles, rocks, roots. But you must plow through it even though it is difficult.

You are sowers but the question is what is it that you are planting? What are you sowing?

But the question is what is it that you are planting? What are you sowing?

The spiritual sowing can be difficult too. One of the reasons it can be so difficult is that to see a result usually takes time, it takes time. We aren’t patient people. We don’t like waiting. But almost anything that is worth doing takes time.

We all sow something. But like we said earlier, what you put down is what you get back.

Galatians 6:8 ESV

8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

The harvest you get is the one you plant. Makes sense doesn’t it? If I plant asparagus I will get asparagus. Potatoes. Spinach. Simple enough.

So lets get back to the spiritual aspect of this. Paul says, There are basically two crops we plant says Paul. One is to his own flesh and one to the Spirit.

The harvest you get is the one you plant. Makes sense doesn’t it? If I plant asparagus I will get asparagus. Potatoes. Spinach.

What is sowing to the flesh? It means that we cater to our own selves, or own desires. (sins, yes) But not just sin. You can be selfish but not actually committing sins unless you are neglecting someone else because of your own selfishness. You can spend all your time thinking about yourself instead of others. Spend all of your time and energy on what you want without actually committing a sin but are sowing to selfish desires.

Then there is also sin which we sow into.

Galatians 6:8 ESV

8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

But what is really happening when I sin? We said last week that the body IS affected by sin.

What does sowing to the flesh mean? It means that we cater to our own selfish desires.(sins, yes)

The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians Keeping It Up (Galatians 6:6–10)

If people sin against their bodies, sooner or later they will pay in ruined health—even if they are forgiven. If people sin against their loved ones, sooner or later hearts will be broken—even if they are forgiven. John B. Gough, the great temperance orator, who had lived a reckless early life, used to declare in warning: ‘The scars remain.’

You are farming something. What are you planting? Are you wrapped up completely in your self and your own interests? That is the selfish desires.

The second part of that verse says this:

But the one who sows to the spirit will reap eternal life. What does sowing to the spirit mean? Sowing to the spirit here, in the context of has to do with supporting the teachers, financially. It means giving. And when that giving happens then they are sowing to the spirit. Because when someone sows to the work of the spirit it has consequences too, those consequences will see people trusting in Christ alone for their salvation and eternal life.

We have to believe that when we give to the local church we do so trusting that how we give is going to impact the world for eternity.

But like I said earlier, the principle is much larger than just that. Yes, first of all, we are supposed to give to our local church because that is where your teachers are.

But the one who sows to the spirit will reap eternal life.

Beyond that the principle is that when we sow to our own desires and passions we will get corruption for our return, but if we so to the spirit, we get back eternal things, we will reap life.

What is sowing to the spirit?

Spurgeon Commentary: Galatians Exposition

Yet if we sow to the Spirit by studying to live unto God, seeking to obey the will of God, and laying ourselves out to promote His honor, we will not sow in vain. Life shall be our reward—even everlasting life.

It means living for God. Not just for the hour or so that you are here. Sowing to the spirit is more than that. It is the fact that Christ lives in you. Always rthere, always ministering. We are always avaiable to Him.

Preaching the Word: Galatians—Gospel-Rooted Living We Will Reap If We Stick with It (6:9)

Of course, sowing to the Spirit isn’t easy. In fact, it’s often quite hard. This is because sowing to the Spirit involves self-denial. And self-denial requires putting to death the self, which is never an easy thing to do!

How good are you at self denial? I am great at it until I am faced with it. I can say no to that extra desert when it isn’t in front of me. I can meet my desires immediately. If I want pie I go to the fridge and get pie. Not even hungry but I will get it because I am sowiing to my own selfish desires. Pie isn’t sinful. it’s just an illustration that our human desires are attainable almost immediately. I am lonely, will call a friend on the phone. I am tired, will lay down. I am angry I might yell at someone. Not sowing anything good.

The problem is Sowing to the spirit is that it is kind of the opposite; partly that it seems kind of mysterious and very far off. Spurgeon says that we deny ourselves and apparently get nothing for it.

That is one of things that makes it tough. We look at sowing to the spirit as something that is too far off. We look at it as abstract, but there really is something that is going on when we are sowing to the spirit. And it isn’t God tallying up points. That isn’t how it works. When you sow to the spirit there is really, actually something going on .

Spurgeon Commentary: Galatians Exposition

Yet if we sow to the Spirit by studying to live unto God, seeking to obey the will of God, and laying ourselves out to promote His honor, we will not sow in vain. Life shall be our reward—even everlasting life.

Preaching the Word: Galatians—Gospel-Rooted Living We Will Reap If We Stick with It (6:9)

Of course, sowing to the Spirit isn’t easy. In fact, it’s often quite hard. This is because sowing to the Spirit involves self-denial. And self-denial requires putting to death the self, which is never an easy thing to do!

Galatians: An Introduction and Commentary g. Sowing and Reaping (6:7–10)

There is only one danger that faces the ‘spiritual farmer’, for there is only one thing that can hinder this harvest. It is doubly expressed here as mē enkakōmen, grow weary, and mē eklyomenoi, lose heart.

Sowing to the spirit seems kind of mysterious and very far off. Spurgeon says that we deny ourselves and apparently get nothing for it.

That is one of things that makes it tough. We look at sowing to the spirit as something that is too far off. It’s like how people don’t think about putting away for retirement because it is so far off.

Spurgeon Commentary: Galatians Exposition

Yet if we sow to the Spirit by studying to live unto God, seeking to obey the will of God, and laying ourselves out to promote His honor, we will not sow in vain. Life shall be our reward—even everlasting life.

Preaching the Word: Galatians—Gospel-Rooted Living We Will Reap If We Stick with It (6:9)

Of course, sowing to the Spirit isn’t easy. In fact, it’s often quite hard. This is because sowing to the Spirit involves self-denial. And self-denial requires putting to death the self, which is never an easy thing to do!

This is how we treat our churches sometimes. We get it all ready for people kind of hoping that they will just show up. Sometimes they do. But we have to be inviting people too. We have to invest in some people.

Many Christians will sit around and wait for corn when they haven’t actually planted anything.

v7 The harvest you get is the one you plant. if you plant wheat you get wheat. If you plant tomatoes you get them.

Sowing to the spirit, eternal things, We look at it as abstract, but there really is something that is going on when we are sowing to the spirit. And it isn’t God tallying up points. That isn’t how it works. When you sow to the spirit there is really, actually something going on.

The same goes with the work, the sowing that we do with others.

Spiritual Farming Takes Time (Faith)

Galatians 6:8 ESV

8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

What does sowing to the flesh mean? It means that we cater to our own selfish desires.(sins, yes)

The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians Keeping It Up (Galatians 6:6–10)

If people sin against their bodies, sooner or later they will pay in ruined health—even if they are forgiven. If people sin against their loved ones, sooner or later hearts will be broken—even if they are forgiven. John B. Gough, the great temperance orator, who had lived a reckless early life, used to declare in warning: ‘The scars remain.’

But the one who sows to the spirit will reap eternal life.

Sowing to the spirit seems kind of mysterious and very far off. Spurgeon says that we deny ourselves and apparently get nothing for it.

Spurgeon Commentary: Galatians Exposition

Yet if we sow to the Spirit by studying to live unto God, seeking to obey the will of God, and laying ourselves out to promote His honor, we will not sow in vain. Life shall be our reward—even everlasting life.

Preaching the Word: Galatians—Gospel-Rooted Living We Will Reap If We Stick with It (6:9)

Of course, sowing to the Spirit isn’t easy. In fact, it’s often quite hard. This is because sowing to the Spirit involves self-denial. And self-denial requires putting to death the self, which is never an easy thing to do!

Spiritual Farming Takes Time (Faith)

Sowing to the spirit. We are still using the concept of farming, of planting/sowing. Listen to this, when you plant a seed into the ground, whether it is a seed of corn, or tomato or whatever, you sink it into the ground, you cover it and you don’t see it anymore. It’s gone, it is out of sight.

But we need to remember that there is a harvest that is coming. I am planting some lettuce this week, some onions, some potatoes. I understand that it will be a while before I get to eat a potato or chop up an onion, or pick a tomato. But I know that it will come. It won’t seem like it for a while. But it will come.

Sometimes we sow and we see things happen pretty quickly. Those veggies in the garden come relatively quickly.

I am getting ready to plant some acorns that I picked up this past winter. Now, those are going to take a while. This is a long term investment. But the same principle holds true. When I plant those acorns, if all goes right, lord willing, my grandkids will be able to climb them. I said this last week. There is an 80ft tree that is in this acorn. It’s just going to take about 30-40 years to get there.

We must always keep in mind that the sowing that we are doing now is going to have a terrific consequence which may be profitable for us, or devastating for us.

Spiritual Farming is hard work. Spiritual Farming is Tedious

Spiritual Farming is Tedious

Spiritual Farming takes patience (faith)

Spiritual Farming is rewarding work. There is an investment that is going on. This is the whole idea of investment. When you invest in something you expect to get a larger return. That is the point. When you invest money into a stock or into a bond or a bank note, there is an expectation that you will receive more back than what you put out in the first place. We get back more than we put out.

If you are a farmer, or a gardener you understand that One tomato plant came from one seed and that from one seed you get many many tomatoes . So much so that usually by the end of the season you are throwing them away because you can’t eat enough tomatoes before they start going bad.

Spiritual sowing, too operates in the same principle; That one conversation with that person. That truth that you told even when it was hard.

There is only one danger that faces the spiritual farmer, there is only one thing that can hinder this harvest, it is written out here. Don’t grow weary, don’t give up.

Galatians 6:9 ESV

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Galatians 6

Galatians: An Introduction and Commentary g. Sowing and Reaping (6:7–10)

There is only one danger that faces the ‘spiritual farmer’, for there is only one thing that can hinder this harvest. It is doubly expressed here as mē enkakōmen, grow weary, and mē eklyomenoi, lose heart.

It is really easy to get tired, it is really easy to give up, especially when we don’t see the return we were expecting. Last year I planted all this stuff and I kind of let it go, I didn’t weed, I didn’t take care of it and it got overtaken and I just gave up on it.

It is really easy to get tired, it is really easy to give up, especially when we don’t see the return we were expecting. Last year I planted all this stuff and I kind of let it go, I didn’t weed, I didn’t take care of it and it got overtaken and I just gave up on it. Don’t give up. Because we will reap the harvest in due season. God’s perfect timing. Paul plays in this context on the meaning of kairos, ‘time’. In Greek, chronos is usually held to be ‘time in the abstract’, while kairos means ‘the right time’ for anything, and so both ‘opportunity’ and ‘due season’

verse 9 “in due season” God’s perfect timing.

Paul plays in this context on the meaning of kairos, ‘time’. In Greek, chronos is usually held to be ‘time in the abstract’, while kairos means ‘the right time’ for anything, and so both ‘opportunity’ and ‘due season’

Don’t give up. Because we will reap the harvest in due season. God’s perfect timing. Paul plays in this context on the meaning of kairos, ‘time’. In Greek, chronos is usually held to be ‘time in the abstract’, while kairos means ‘the right time’ for anything, and so both ‘opportunity’ and ‘due season’

Cole, R. A. (1989). Galatians: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 9, p. 232). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Do you believe in what the Scriptures say? Do you believe that you are a spiritual farmer? We are.

The Message of Galatians 2. Christian Holiness (Verse 8)

Holy Spirit is likened both to the path along which we walk (Gal. 5) and to the field in which we sow (Gal. 6). How can we expect to reap the fruit of the Spirit if we do not sow in the field of the Spirit? The old adage is true: ‘Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.’

Jesus, the son of God would tell parables all the time about sowing and reaping and farming and seeds. It is a favorite illustration of the Old Testament.

Galatians: An Introduction and Commentary g. Sowing and Reaping (6:7–10)

There is only one danger that faces the ‘spiritual farmer’, for there is only one thing that can hinder this harvest. It is doubly expressed here as mē enkakōmen, grow weary, and mē eklyomenoi, lose heart.

Just for the sake of an illustration, not to be taken too literally or too far :

We have had a seed planted into us, which is perfectly suited to grow us into what God has called us to. Where are you sowing? Where are you investing. To stay true to the context of this section of Scripture I have to say it because the bible says it. The context is for the local preacher teacher and it feels a little awkward saying it until I think about the fact that the way you contribute, the way that you sow into the God’s church blesses the receiver and it also blesses the giver. I won’t promise you monetary blessings, I cannot do that. I won’t promise you health, or ease in your difficult circumstances.

The only thing I can offer you is the assurance that you are obeying God when you invest in Him, and you are investing in something that is eternal.

It would be good for us to keep in our minds that there is a harvest that is coming and that harvest is coming for what we have sown. For what we plant and what we cultivate in this life.

Lord, please empower us by your holy spirit to sow seeds that are for your kingdom. Help us to be generous in our hearts to sow to those who teach us, and let us look at this as giving to you in the ministry here, for the work that goes out to provide for your kingdom. Because there is a day that is coming,

Preaching the Word: Galatians—Gospel-Rooted Living We Will Reap If We Stick with It (6:9)

And what a glorious day that shall be! For we will discover that what we reap is completely out of proportion to what we’ve sown. The sacrifices we’ve made in this life will appear small, even to the point of insignificance, on that great and majestic day!