God is the Creator of spiritual laws and natural laws. Those are those precepts or truths that work the same every time.
For example, gravity is a natural law. Whether you believe in gravity or not, it always works the same way. Why? Because it’s a law.
The same goes for spiritual laws established by God. He created an orderly system for life and well-being. And when those laws are not followed, then consequences are experienced.
I’m sure you can imagine some times when you didn’t follow natural or spiritual laws and suffered the consequences. Perhaps you went without adequate sleep for a time and ended up sick. Or you lashed out at your spouse or your friend and hurt their feelings and the relationship was damaged.
One of the abiding laws established by God is “planting seeds.” The Bible teaches us, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Galatians 6:7
God’s law is set. We will reap what we sow. The seed we sow has many implications. And when we consider God’s truth and examine our own actions, we can see in part why we have success and why we suffer challenges. Some of those are easy to decipher.
For example . . .
Right now nearly 70 percent of all adults in the United States are overweight or obese. That’s a huge majority. And the consequences of this health peril are many, including sickness and disease, a lesser quality of life, poor self-image, and even death. God created amazing bodies and the foods to nourish them so they could be healthy and full of energy. But when we don’t eat well and when we don’t care for our bodies, then we are breaking the laws of health and we suffer consequences.
We can also consider the quality of the seed we are planting. Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and
then you notice their kind of “zoning out?” It’s like they’ve switched their thoughts to something or someone else. They are sowing poor quality seed into the exchange. Yes, there is a bit of presence. But it’s not very good. You feel slighted and not very good about the experience, so the harvest is weak and feeble. My guess is that you’ve been on both sides of that kind of exchange. I know I have.
then you notice their kind of “zoning out?” It’s like they’ve switched their thoughts to something or someone else. They are sowing poor quality seed into the exchange. Yes, there is a bit of presence. But it’s not very good. You feel slighted and not very good about the experience, so the harvest is weak and feeble. My guess is that you’ve been on both sides of that kind of exchange. I know I have. Another truth about sowing is making sure we are sowing the right kind of seed. It’s easy to see this truth in horticulture. If you sow tomato seeds, you expect tomatoes. If you sow apple seeds, you expect apples. Easy, right?
Yet, sometimes we sow seeds into people’s lives and expect different results. It’s like the husband that buys his wife a vacuum cleaner for their anniversary. And then he can’t figure out why she doesn’t feel loved and cherished. Believe me, most wives would far prefer a love letter written in sincerity as a gift over a top of the line vacuum cleaner! The husband planted corn and expected a harvest of fragrant red roses!
Farmer John
There’s another truth about sowing that we can look at. I’ve taught this story for a long time and people really get it. It’s about a farmer who desperately wants a good harvest of his crop. Farmer John prays and prays and asks God to bless him with an abundant harvest. He waits patiently and nothing seems to happen. After a few months John looks around at the neighboring farms and sees their crops are flourishing. Yet, his is almost totally bare. The only plants he can find are weeds.
Farmer John continues to pray and even begs God for a harvest. And while he remains patient, God doesn’t seem to bless him. Finally, John is at his wits end and starts to get mad and very disappointed in God. In his frustration he comes before the Father to grumble and complain,”God, look at Ned’s field. You blessed him. And look at the Smith’s farm, their crop is bigger and better than ever. And now look at my land. Hardly anything is growing, and what has sprouted is only weeds. I’ve prayed over and over again. I’ve even begged You to bless me. Why, oh why, have you turned your back on me and cared about them but not about me? ”
Within minutes the sky fills with clouds and a rumbling sound begins. John hears the audible voice of God, “Oh John, I am faithful. I will bless you. I’m just waiting for you to plant your seed.”
Yes, it’s a silly little story. But oh so true for many of the circumstances we experience. We wonder why God isn’t blessing us instead recognizing His established and proven law and being obedient to them.
Deuteronomy 28 teaches clearly the truth about sowing obedience and harvesting the blessing. Here is how the chapter starts, “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God.”
Where does this bring us now?
I say it brings each one of us to examine ourselves and think about the seeds we are sowing in both the natural realm and the spiritual realm. Does the harvest you want match with the seed you are sowing? Are you sowing enough seed for the abundance you desire? Are you planting good quality seed into the ground? And are you planting the right seed for the type of return you want?
The Bible teaches us, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.” Genesis 8:22
It’s the law . . . it’s established . . . and it’s the truth.