Sowing & Reaping
6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. – Galatians 6:6-10
A young man had a falling out with a local farmer. He was so mad at the man, he decided to take revenge and sown the farmer’s fields with Johnson Grass. This weed took over and made the farmer’s life very difficult. But soon afterwards, the young man met and fell in love with a beautiful girl. After dating for a short time, he wanted to ask for her hand in marriage. To his surprise her father turned out to be the farmer. Since the farmer did not know the young man was guilty of the mean hearted deed of sowing his fields with Johnson grass seed, he gave his daughter’s hand in marriage. A short time after the couple were married, the farmer died and left his farm to his only daughter and her new husband. The young man spent the rest of his life fighting the Johnson grass he had sown. You reap what you sow.
Sow to the Spirit by Sharing the Burden of Your Teachers
Paul begins his illustration from agriculture about how one will reap what they have sown. He points out that when one is sharing the burden of their teachers, they are sowing to the Spirit. “Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.” (6:6). Notice the use of the word “let” to bridge two commands. “The conjunction de [“Let”] either connects this to the preceding as one example of a Christian bearing his burden or sowing seeds of support to reap benefits” (Willis).
From the Greek word translated “taught” comes our English word “catechism.” It identifies one receiving instruction in the Word of God. Christianity is a taught religion, not inherited like Judaism.
Another term that needs our attention is “share”. It comes from the Greek word koinonia meaning “to have in common” and translated “fellowship.” Christians have fellowship in the sufferings of Christ (Phil. 3:10) and in a common faith (Jude 3). It is also used with sharing financially in Romans 12:13; 15:27; Philippians 4:15. While the teacher uses his time to share the Gospel, so students share their goods.
The extent or content of sharing is “all good things.” Previously, Paul spoke of the need to share one another’s burdens. This passage clearly allows for the economic support of teachers/preachers. The teacher of the Word shares spiritual treasures, and those who are taught ought to share material treasures. Jesus said, “the laborer is worthy of his hire” (Luke 10:7). Jesus Himself received financial aid from those He taught (Luke 8:1f). Paul explained it this way to the Corinthian congregation. “If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? (1 Cor. 9:11). This is not to support an extravagant lifestyle or wants of a teacher/preacher, but to produce spiritual life and support what is needed for physical existence. “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” (1 Tim. 6:17-19).
This is not just any teacher, but those who teach the “Word” of God. The teacher has to spend his time and resources. Teaching can be a very time consuming. While taking time to prepare and teach others, he still must have time to provide for his family. Again, Paul wrote, “even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:14). This principle does not just apply to teachers and preachers of the Word, Paul includes those who work hard as elders. “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine” (1 Tim. 5:17). To neglect sharing in God’s messenger’s burden is to sow to the flesh not the Spirit. Keep in mind in our time and culture most teachers of Word have full-time jobs to support their family and thus donate their time. This is especially true of those who are elders and Bible class teachers.
Reaping What One Sows is Immutable
Next, Paul gives this warning, “do not be deceived” (6:7a). The axiom one reaps as they have sown is undeniable both in the physical as well as is the spiritual creations. To think one could sow corn seed and reap bananas is just not going to happen. This is true in one’s spiritual walk. You cannot sow drunkenness and reap a sober mind. You cannot sow lies and reap integrity. You cannot sow envy and strife and reap a loving relationship with others. You cannot sow non-attendance and reap of spiritual family. You cannot sow bad habits and reap a righteous character. It is like the girl who is promiscuous in her flirting, uses an abundance of make-up, wears revealing and tight immodest clothing and still hopes to catch the attention of a godly man who is attracted to them for their good soul and righteous example. What they get is a cheap date, cheap reputation, and a cheap husband. What you attract men with is what you attract men to.
Paul gives a second warning: “God is not mocked” (6:7b) Literally, this means “to turn up one’s nose” at God. God, who created the laws of sowing and reaping, will not be treated with contempt. A college student might cheat on an examination, get by with it, and decide that God is like his teacher. But our deeds and thoughts are “naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:13). We will never slip one over on God and thereby avoid reaping different than what we have sown. God is not a fool. You sow to our flesh and wickedness all your life and He as the all-knowing Judge will still give you the harvest you have sown on Judgment Day.
Sowing Determines Reaping
Paul reminds his readers that their reaping is determined by their sowing. “For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (6:7c). We reap what we sow. This has been a fact from Creation. “Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth’; and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good’” (Gen. 1:11-12). In the natural world, a man reaps in relationship to the kind of seed he has sown. This is why you have never heard a farmer complain, “I planted green bean seed, but I have no idea what I will reap at harvest. Maybe coconuts?” Good seed with produce a good crop, and bad seed a bad crop.
Another law of nature than cannot be denied is we only reap after we have sown. Just as in the spiritual laws, we sow in this life and reap in the next.
We reap more than we sow. Jesus in His parable demonstrated this fact. He said, “he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Mt. 13:23). If not, why bother sowing. One could not gain more seed for future plantings. David sowed to the flesh with Bathsheba, and reaped abundant corruption in Amnon, Absalom, Tamar, and even in the fact that his wives were defiled before the nation, He suffered the fourfold deaths of his sons (2 Sam. 12:7-14). In the early 1970s a blight hit the corn crops of America. The yield was very low that year. Farmers were financial devastated, some taking huge losses. So, the next year they planted double the crop in fear of another blight destroying their corn. Instead, they had a bumper crop which more than doubled what they normally what have had and it more than made up for their previous losses.
A good harvest only comes as a result of sowing the right seed, good seed, plenty of seed, at the right time, and with the blessings of favorable conditions. “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Cor. 9:6).
– Daniel R. Vess