Sunday, August 21, 2016

Do we really reap WHAT we sow?

"Most assuredly, I say to you, except a corn of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it abides alone. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit" - John 12:24.

Image source: businesshorsepower.com

"You reap what you sow" (or, what you sow is what you reap) is one saying that is thrown around a lot and many believe it to be correct as it is quoted...but how correct is this saying? Do we really reap WHAT we sow? Let's see...

Until now, I too had accepted and believed this saying without questioning - hook , line and sinker. But while reflecting on it recently, the Holy Spirit helped me understand it differently. Contrary to popular belief, we do not really reap WHAT we sow. How do I mean? Let me explain...

In our anchor text (John 12:24), Jesus speaking said, "except A CORN OF WHEAT falls to the ground and dies (that is, except it is sowed), it abides alone. But if it dies, it brings forth MUCH FRUIT".
When you sow "a corn of wheat", you reap "much" fruit...not "a corn of wheat" - what happened? Multiplication! What you sow is not really what you reap! The law of sowing and reaping ensures multiplication!

What you sow returns as "much fruit" (in multiple fold)
Nothing sowed returns as it was sown, but in multiple fold!
Think about it, if you sow a seed of orange, what would you reap in due time? A seed of orange? Or, at the very least, an orange fruit? You could potentially reap an entire forest of orange trees just from sowing the orange seed! So, did you reap WHAT you sowed? I'd say, no and yes...

No, because you would reap the FRUIT (multiple fold) of what you sow in due time, not WHAT you sow. Yes, because you reap ACCORDING TO THE KIND of what you sow. You can't sow orange seed and reap apple fruit! What you sow reproduces after its kind and returns in multiple fold!

Why should I sow if I would reap the same thing?
Frankly, if I would reap WHAT I sow, then why sow it in the first place? I could as well keep it to myself. Why give it away in the first place if I would get WHAT I gave? But no! We do not reap what we sow. It bears fruit and returns to us in multiple fold!


Image source: harvestcdc.com

This applies to both good seeds and bad seeds
"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" - Galatians 6:8.

The principle of seed multiplication applies both ways - that is, for good seeds and bad seeds.

If you sow goodness, it bears fruit and returns to you in multiple fold; and if you sow evil, it will equally bears its kind of fruit and return to you in multiple fold.
If you sow laziness instead of hard work, for instance, you'd reap its fruit, that is large-scale failure, in due time.
If you sow indiscipline instead of diligence, you'd reap its fruit - a mediocre life.
If you sow sin, you'd reap death!

Be mindful and deliberate about what you sow
Be mindful and deliberate about what you sow this week and beyond. Deliberately sow good seeds, and in due time you'd reap, not the seeds, but the fruits!

So, what are you sowing? Do not think you would reap WHAT you are sowing, you'd reap its "much fruits" version!

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