(Prov 28:10 CEV) Whoever leads decent people into evil will fall into his own pit, but innocent people will inherit good things.
This morning we continue our “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God” series. In this statement Solomon is reminding us about the principle of sowing and reaping. In Genesis 8 the we find of the story of Noah and how he and his family were the only ones spared when the Lord destroyed the earth with water. When it was over Noah built an altar to the Lord and offered Him a sacrifice. The Lord was pleased with the sacrifice and said, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done” (v.21). After looking back and giving us that assurance, the Lord looked forward and said, “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease” (v.22). So from that time to now, we experience seasons and cycles of sowing reaping, of seedtime and harvest. While this clearly applies to the earth, trees, plants, and etc., it also applies to every area of our lives. If you sow mercy, you will reap a harvest of mercy and people will be merciful to you. If you sow forgiveness, you will reap a harvest of forgiveness and you will find that people will be willingly forgiving with you. But if you sow discord and malice, as today’s verse indicates, then sure enough, you will eventually reap what you sow and fall into your own pit. So remember:
1. The principle of sowing and reaping/seedtime and harvest” will remain while the earth is here.
2. This principle is not limited to plants.
3. Our harvest is tied to our seed. Good seed = good harvest, bad seed = bad harvest.
4. If you don’t like what you are reaping, then it’s time to check the seed you are sowing.
Paul made this all very clear. In his letter to the church in Galatia he said, “Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others – ignoring God! – harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit” (6:7-9).
So what does this mean to you today? It means the onus is now on you to perform what you have received. Information is one thing, but application is another. Information without application will not bring about liberation in your life. When you receive the Word of God and then respond to what you have received by submitting to it and allowing God to change you into His image, then you will see the power of God manifested in your life like never before. So don’t get frustrated, aggravated, irritated, or discouraged in doing good (sowing good seeds). If you keep doing right and being used of God, you will reap God’s harvest in God’s time. Just don’t quit!
Closing Confession: Father, I receive Your Word this morning. While the earth remains, there will be seedtime and harvest. There will be time to sow and time to reap. Time to plant and time to harvest that which was planted. I sow peace, grace, mercy, forgiveness, kindness, tenderness, understanding, and finances, and I expect a harvest on every seed sown. I abstain from sowing bad seed, because I don’t want to reap a bad harvest. I enter this day as a sower. I will loose the seed of Your righteousness into the lives of those You lead me to. I will never grow weary in well doing. I will never give up. I will continue to sow and continue to reap. Your harvest will manifest itself in my life in Your time. The best is yet come! I have great expectations! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
