Sow what

Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Sowing and reaping, harvest preaching, what is the Bible really teaching? Our society is rooted in a belief system based on works, getting what you give. Do a good job at work, get a raise. Do a good job in school, get a new car at graduation. Honestly, there is nothing inherently wrong with this mindset; it allows goals to be set and gives us motivation to accomplish the daily grind. But when it comes to God and understanding His teaching, His ways, we have to get outside our worldly paradigms and start viewing life from a spiritual standpoint.

Take sowing and reaping as an example. This point has been pounded into the ground by the church and to what end? The more it’s preached, the more people shut down and don’t want to hear it. Why do you suppose that is? Because the emphasis is always put on what you have to give in order to receive. Whether it’s a sermon on tithing (“‘Test Me,’ sayeth the LORD,” says the preacher) or on service, the focus is always on you doing to get. Is that what Jesus taught? Is it what He said?

An examination of Jesus’ Parable of the Sower and His subsequent explanation clearly shows us what Jesus thinks about sowing and reaping. He wasn’t referring to giving money, time, or goods; He wasn’t talking about more rules and laws to live in to. Christ was talking about sowing the Gospel (Matthew 13:18). Jesus was telling His disciples to sow the Word [Christ], not more works, in order to reap a 30, 60, or 100 fold harvest.

I’m not saying that tithing, giving, or service are wrong by any means. What I am saying is those things are products of faith, not works by which to grow faith. (Faith comes by hearing the word of God, not by works. [Romans 10:17]) When we spend our time focusing on works and receiving rewards (a harvest) through our works, we make Christ’s sacrifice worthless (Galatians 5:4).

When we take the time, however, to sow Jesus and what He has done, will do, and is doing we reap the true harvest of His grace. It is not through our works, our sacrificial giving, or our “faith” seed that we receive the abundant life that Jesus came to bring, but simply by sowing Jesus. The more we proclaim Jesus, His healing, and His salvation through the cross, the more abundantly we receive a harvest of all that He has to offer in our own lives. It’s not about what we can sow to reap, it’s all about what we have already reaped to sow.