What Your Church Sows It Will Reap

While encouraging Christians to share and do good, Paul reminds them of the principle of sowing and reaping... (Ga 6:7-10). This principle which is regularly applied to individuals can also be applied to churches as a whole. The things that the church has sown over the years and decade will come to bear now. If your church is in decline, then most of the reason is because of past choices and decisions from the past that are coming to fruition now. In many circumstances it is because of the lack of choices and decisions. The church is in the place that it is now because of not doing, or not sowing the correct seed.

Related to sowing and reaping, Chinese philosopher once wrote:

  "If the past has taught us anything it is that every cause brings its effect, every action has a consequence. "If a man plants melons he will reap melons; if he sows beans, he will reap beans." And this is true of everyone's life; good brings good, and evil leads to evil. True enough, the sun shines on the saint and the sinner alike, and too often it seems that the wicked prosper. the flourishing of the wicked is an illusion, for, unceasingly, life keeps books on us all. In the end, we are all the sum total of our actions. Character cannot be counterfeited, nor can it put on and cast off as if it were a garment to meet the whim of the moment. Like the markings on wood which are ingrained in the very heart of the tree, character requires time and nurturing for growth and development. day by day, we write our own destiny; we become what we do."

The implications of this principle (we reap what we sow) are important, worthy of our consideration...

WHAT THE PRINCIPLE IMPLIES. WHAT WE ARE TODAY, IS DUE TO WHAT WE DID YESTERDAY...

Our position, attitude, character, etc., is the result of our actions in the past. The choices and the putting off of choices have situated the church where it is now. We cannot lay blame on heredity, environment, parents, society, etc. Such things influenced us only to the degree that we let them. At some point, the church likely stopped reaching the community like it did before. Stopped actively evangelizing like they did before. Started to turn inward on their focus, more than they did before.

We must accept responsibility for our actions, for God will demand it of us one day! -  2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

      -- Truly, the present reveals much about our past!

WHAT WE ARE TOMORROW, WILL BE DUE TO WHAT WE DO TODAY...

We can change if we do not like what we are today! - 2 Co 5:17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. But change like this comes slowly, not overnight - 1Pe 2:1-2 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow. We must begin sowing today if we want to reap tomorrow! Your church can turn this around and start planting the right seed and making the right choices now for a better harvest tomorrow. While true of everyone, especially true for the young. They are making choices which will affect the rest of their lives! They cannot "sow wild oats" and not "reap the harvest"!

 -- Just as true, the present dictates much about our future!

And so, "we become what we do." Now let's consider the principle applied by Paul...

WE ARE GIVEN TWO OPTIONS... We sow to the flesh - Ga 6:8a. This entails the works of the flesh described earlier. Those who sow to the flesh reap corruption (sorrow, disease, damnation). A church that is inward focused, taking care of self, looking only to the people they already have will only see meager results and puny harvest. As the church members die off so the church dwindles and dies as well. They will not add to the kingdom of God! Or we sow to the Spirit - Ga 6:8b. This entails walking in the Spirit. Those who sow to the Spirit reap everlasting life (abundant life, salvation). Churches that start making the right decisions of sowing the seed of Kingdom work will harvest Kingdom fruit. They will also reap the fruit of the Spirit.

 -- We can't do both (Ga 5:16-17); so, which will it be?

 WE SHOULD SOW TO THE SPIRIT... By doing good to all, especially brethren - Ga 6:10. This is the context of Paul's remarks on sowing and reaping. Paul writes of reaping everlasting life. In other places he makes a similar connection - 1Ti 6:17-19 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Churches need to be about the business of sowing Kingdom seed for a Kingdom harvest. Start making the right choices now that will produce fruit later.

Jesus makes a similar connection on several occasions. In the sermon on the Mount, To His disciples, following a parable on covetousness, To the rich young ruler, who lacked one thing. By sharing in the good things taught in the Word. As some understand Paul's comments in verse 6 Even if not Paul's original intent, the principle certainly remains true.

We can so share in two ways: Obedience to the gospel, of course. Growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Doing so will one day reap a wonderful harvest!

  -- We sow to the Spirit (and lay up treasure in heaven) as we do good to all!

 WE SHOULD NOT GROW WEARY... There is the need for patience and perseverance. The labor is not in vain. The reaping will come at the proper time (the coming of the Lord). We shall reap if we don't lose heart and give up  -- Learn from the farmer...have faith like a farmer!

CONCLUSION

Our character today may not be what it should be, but it can change. We have but two choices, which shall it be...Sow to the Spirit, and reap eternal life? Sow to the flesh, and reap corruption? Eternal life awaits those who are willing to sow to the Spirit by patiently doing good... - Ro 2:7