I like that whole sense of anticipation in gardening, knowing that what you do now, is going to look fantastic later. Particularly that whole concept of planting seeds or bulbs for a beautiful display later. Or vegetable seeds for a feast later.
Paul liked planting as well, he was totally convinced that sowing led to harvesting. He instructs us in Galatians 6:7,
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked: for whatever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
He is referring to Genesis 8:9
“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”
In Genesis, Noah had just stepped out of the ark after the Lord flooded the earth, and here the Lord establishes for all time, some natural laws. There will always be 1) days and nights, 2) summer and winter and 3) seedtime and harvest.
All of mankind lives under these natural laws while here on earth. Paul believed the Galatians to be deceived. It seems there were those among them that were saying that whatever a man sows is not necessarily what he reaps. In our lives today, this law is also challenged.
People are cynical about sowing and reaping.
They will tell you that the principle is not true, and usually those that challenge it are those that at one or other time in their lives, tried it out. They sowed, and what they reaped was either nothing, or not what they hoped for. These are the ones that are most critical about this law, and if you dig a bit deeper, it usually has to do with their finances.
They say: “Whatever you sew, is not always what you reap!”
But Paul says to the Galatians, STOP being deceived. The principle of sowing and reaping is God’s natural law, He established it, it works and operates, don’t mock Him, by saying it is not true. Paul then states the Law as it is: Whatsoever (or whatever) a man sows (soweth), that shall he also reap (KJV).
Rick Renner in Sparkling Gems of the Greek, explains that the Greek word for “soweth” is “spiero” – referring to the sowing of anything, any kind of seed. The word whatsoever or whatever, emphasis that it is literally anything that is sown. It is not just applicable to finances, as some people would believe, but is applicable to anything that is sown. It applies to love, work, time, patience, kindness, forgiveness, bitterness, selfishness, anger, lying – the list goes on, and of-course it also includes money. All of these are “potential” seeds that we sow.
The simple fact is that whatever you sow, regardless of what it is, you will reap.
So today my question is, what have I sown? If the natural law applies: what is this farmer sowing? Scripture says that those who are farmers will benefit.
“The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.” (2 Tim 2:6)
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Farmers work hard at a task that shows no immediate result, but they do the work based on a natural law of sow and harvest. They live in hope of harvest. What is my hope of harvest? What am I trusting God for?
- Farmers, from 2 Tim 2:6 will be the first to get a share of the crop, but they also plant, with hope, for the benefit of others. What is my hope of harvest that will benefit others?
- A good farmer plants irrespective of the size of the harvest, he just plants, trusting the results to God. He practices faith, that his yield will be sufficient for his needs and the needs of others. Am I practicing faith, by making sure I am planting seeds.
Jesus referred to Himself as a farmer in Matt 13:3, Mark 4:3 and Mark 4:14. We are referred to as farmers in James 5:7:
“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.”
What is a farmer? A seed planter. Yes, a farmer, ploughs, waters and harvests, but he is first and foremost, a seed planter.
Be a Seed Planter.
Practice faith and hope and plant a few seeds into the ground for this year. What do you want to see happen this year in your life? Plant a seed.
Father help me to be a good farmer. To consistently exercise my faith, putting my hope in You and your abilities, and planting seeds for that which I want to harvest this year. Help me not to plant wanting a guarantee of harvest, but help me to plant because I believe the principle and that You are a good Father, who will send rain to water the seeds I have put into the ground.
