Sow What?

(Proverbs 22:8 KJV)  He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

Our life “sows” (2232) according to our values and decisions.  It is possible to sow a crop and have it destroyed so that you can’t reap but generally you cannot reap if you have not sowed.  That is the observation of a non-farmer. 

As a Bible student I did a search of the two words together.  I found many different cause and effect relationships.  One set has to do with the physical act of farming.  The Bible recognizes the many possible outcomes in a profession dependent on weather, insects, oppression and war.  Another major category is more figurative.  This verse one of those and it goes along with the verse that most are familiar with:

(Galatians 6:7 KJV)  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

We know that is talking about major spiritual issues because of the next verse.

(Galatians 6:8 KJV)  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Good farmers and gardeners prepare the ground.  Compare our yard and my mother’s.  I remember how my mother’s yard always seemed to grow the best vegetables.  She had these massive tomato plants among other things.  She never planted them, they came up volunteer because she had been burying her garbage for years.  Ignore the word “garbage” or switch it for “spontaneous fertilizer.”  She was doing the work that prepared the ground to produce a crop.  Our house was in an old development that had leveled the lots by scraping off the top soil and bringing in decomposed granite to make it smooth.  We sometimes had to plant a bush or tree three times to get it to take hold and grow.  Even then it was anemic for years.

It matters what you sow.  It matters how you prepare the ground before you sow.  If our actions demonstrate “iniquity” (5767b), we see the results.  We determine how our life and character will develop by our choices. 

So.  Do you choose to sin?  Then live with the results.  Do you sow righteousness?  Then live with the results.  But remember that God is gracious.  He is always ready to respond to genuine repentance.  This is one of the miracles of grace.  This is why when I am feeling my most self-righteous God reminds me that it was Jesus blood, not my sweat that bought my salvation.  He is waiting if you are ready.  He will meet us where our need is, be it repentance, reminder or revival.  Give Him a call, He’s in the Book.