Sowing And Reaping

by PEDDIE, J. | Category: For Young Believers | Dec 1957

When Paul wrote to the Galatians, he made a solemn and comprehensive statement, "Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap" (6.7). Matthew in chapter 7. verse 2 of his Gospel says, "With what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you." Paul refers to "kind," Matthew to "quantity. "This can be traced right down through the history of man. Ever since the fall of Adam through transgression in the garden of Eden, his posterity have known the bitter consequences of reaping what they have sown. These words should have a sobering effect upon us, for we also shall reap the harvest of our sowing; whether we realize it or not, we sow and reap every day of our lives. We should sow in the light of eternity, for one day we shall stand before the Judge of all the earth to receive the things done in the body and we shall have to give an acco1nt to God of our stewardship. Take heed therefore how you sow and what you sow. Solomon the Preacher gives us wise counsel in this matter; he says, "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days." "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not which shall prosper whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good " (Ecclesiastes 11.1.6).

Are we praying that the Master,

When He comes to claim His own,

May some precious fruit then gather,

From the seed that we have sown?

When we say a kind word or do a good deed to someone, we sow a seed in the heart. The best kind of seed to sow is the incorruptible seed of the Word of God which liveth and abideth. The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, "the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life" (John 6.68). When a word from God enters the heart and germinates, then it blossoms out. If we say a harsh word or do an unkindly action, we shall sow a seed and shall reap the harvest of our sowing. We may seek faithfully to sow the good seed of the Word of God to our fellow-workers or our neighbours and be reproached for doing so. Peter says in his first epistle 4.14," If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye, because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you." We also read that we are called not only to believe on Christ, but also to suffer in His behalf" (Philippians 1.29). We live in a day of ease. If we were called upon to suffer dishonour for the Name, we may be the better for it, and our lives may be holier in consequence. We should always try to emulate the wonderful spirit of the Master "Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously " (1 Peter 2.22). "It is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master, and the servant as his Lord " (Matthew 10.25). The foregoing paragraph is but another aspect of sowing and reaping. John Newton knew something of this which he so beautifully expresses in these lines of his hymn : Why should I complain of want or distress,

Temptation or pain ?

He told me no less

The heirs of salvation,

I know from His Word

Through much tribulation,

must follow their Lord.

How bitter that cup

no heart can conceive,

The Saviour drank up,

that sinners might live;

His way was much rougher

and darker than mine,

Did Christ my Lord suffer,

and shall I repine?"

In view of the seriousness of the days we are living in, let us make a determined effort to reach those who are perishing in hopeless sin, who are without hope and without God in the world. Is it too much to ask that you put a tract in every house in your neighbourhood, or to stand in open-air testimony between the living and the dead, holding forth the Word of Life. We shall all be held responsible at the judgement-seat of Christ if we do not spread abroad the glorious Gospel message to those with whom we work and beside whom we live. If we sow in faith, we shall reap an abundant harvest. Let us therefore, " stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel" (Philippians 1.27), while we have the health, strength and the opportunity!

The following are the words of a great soul-winner of a past generation, and no one who has not had this experience should question the truth of his statement

"Even if I were utterly selfish and had no care for anything but my own happiness, I would choose, if I might, under God, to be a soul-winner, for never did I know perfect, overflowing unutterable happiness of the purest and most ennobling order, till I first heard of one who had sought and found the Saviour through my means. No young mother ever so rejoiced over her firstborn child, no warrior was so exultant over a hard won victory."

"They that show in tears shall reap in joy. Though he goeth forth on his way weeping, bearing forth the seed; he shall come again with joy, bringing his sheaves with him" (Psalm 126.5, 6).

PEDDIE, J. | Dec 1957
For Young Believers