Reaping What You Sow

[!NOTE] Primary Scripture Reading: Galatians 6:1-10

I. Reap what you sow

A. Life is characterized by cause and effect

B. On a personal, family, church, national, and global level, actions lead to certain results both good and bad.

C. Logically, we understand this to be true. Sometimes we make decisions as if the consequences did not exist.

D. We will reap the effects of our actions

E. Some consequences may seem minute but can snowball out of control

F. For example, a person may decide to use illegal drugs by experimentation or escape. The only consequences he may consider is the possibility of arrest or of some shameful action committed while high.

G. Yet the abuse can trigger a series of events:

H. Addiction

I. The person may become an addict (some drugs create physical or psychological dependence very quickly) Soon the person is spending large amounts of money on drugs but not able to hold a reputable job and may begin stealing to supply the habit. Eventually the person can become a slave to the substance throwing away a life of promise becoming an embarrassment to himself and his family.

J. Other consequences

K. A girl, while high, may become pregnant because her judgment was warped by drugs.

L. Some have died suddenly of previously unknown conditions or of physical effects of the drugs.

M. Len Bias Cop talking about slowed breathing and drowning in tub Some have become violent while using drugs and have killed friends and family members.

N. Whether it is illegal drugs, sexual immorality, drunkenness, gambling, stealing, lying, and the like, life damaging or destroying effects can affect the individual, family, and friends resulting from behavior in which the consequences seemed insignificant. All actions have consequences: sometimes on earth, always in judgment

II. What are you growing?

A. Wickedness

B. Some sow sin foolishly thinking that there will be no harvest.

C. If the results of sin are not immediately apparent, one can become complacent, even arrogant, and eventually hardened in sin.

D. Only when one has ventured too far into the mire will he realize that he is trapped.

E. Most sin is like lead poisoning—the toxic effect results from a long period of time in which one ingests the poison in small doses. Actions develop into habits, abuse can lead to dependency, casual sin can lead to addiction; all are hard to break.

F. When reaping the bitter harvest some ask, “Why did God let this happen to me?”

G. If the person looked carefully he would read of warnings against becoming slaves to desires and appetites of the flesh. It is God’s word that says we will reap what we sow. Proverbs 22:8 – sow iniquity and reap trouble Ed Bragwell: “Some sow wild oats and pray to God for crop failure.”

H. Easier to blame others than to face one’s own harvest.

I. You can blame your parents, your genetics, society at large, Hollywood influence, your friends, or “the devil made me do it,” but you will stand before God accountable for what you do.2 Corinthians 5:9-11 – we stand alone before God Job 4:8-9 – Those who plow iniquity and sow trouble will perish Ezekiel 18:20 – The soul that sins shall die

J. Good Fruit

K. Those who sow good fruit reap a better harvest

L. Hosea 10:12 – sow righteousness instead Luke 8:15 - Parable of soils: bear fruit with endurance

M. We have been created to do the works of God

N. Ephesians 2:10 – We are his work created for good works Titus 2:11-14 – purified us to be zealous for every good work

O. This is why we are here; therefore, God expects us to bear fruit

P. Luke 19:11-27 - Parable of the Minas (about three months’ salary)

Q. Severe man expecting to reap where he did not sow. God has given us much and expects something in return. God expects more from some than He does from others but He expects something for what He has given to us. We do not exist for our own comfort; we exist to serve Him! How frightening to appear before God with nothing to show for the time we spent on earth.

III. There will be a harvest—day of reckoning

A. As with the Parable of the Minas, God will settle His accounts at Judgment.

B. Galatians 6:1-10 – What will you reap?