God’s PRINCIPLE of SOWING and REAPING
June 25
Bible Reading: Psalms Chapters 120-127
God’s PRINCIPLE of SOWING and REAPING
"Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He, who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall
doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." (Psalms 126:5-6)
Psalms 126
is the seventh step of the ‘Song of Ascents’ that the pilgrims recited as they
journeyed to the temple in Jerusalem. This psalm divides itself into a narrative (vv.1-2), a song (v.3), a prayer (v.4), and a promise
(vv.5-6). Psalm 126 has also been divided
into three parts by Bible scholars as this
psalm describes the joy that should arise in us as a result of our position in
Christ:
- Joy is freedom (vv.1-3)…in Christ: As we yield ourselves to Christ in
total obedience, He reproduces Himself in us and enables us to be totally free
to do His will.
- Joy is fullness (v.4)…in Christ: God can fill our empty lives the
way that the rains fill the dry riverbeds in the desert.
- Joy is fruitfulness (vv.5-6)…in
Christ: A fruitful
Christian experiences God’s power and fulfills complete potential which can
only come through understanding and adhering God’s principle of sowing and
reaping.
What is God’s principle
of sowing and reaping?
Psalms
126:5-6 describes a process that goes against our natural tendencies when we
are taken into a difficult period in our lives. Whenever we are hurled into a
crisis that brings tears, our natural tendency is to recoil in fear and hurt,
and subsequently retreat into a corner. However, there is a better way that God
tells us to handle such times of travail and pain. God is telling us that if we do something unnatural, we will reap extraordinary joy in our
lives. When faced with difficult circumstances, rather than sitting back and
allowing self-pity and discouragement to consume us, we should plant seeds
during this time. We need to reach out and see where we can be a blessing to
others as we give ourselves in this task.
The psalmist
acknowledges that we are sowing seeds while we are in our pain. The seeds will
return to us in another form – in the form of sheaves, which represents
multiplied blessings. We will receive joy and fruit from the seeds that we
plant during this time. Sheaves represent the fruit of a harvest – we will gain
abundant harvest from the seeds that we plant in other people’s lives.
If we find ourselves in a difficult
place today, let us attempt to go against our natural tendencies to sow seeds
of blessings in other people’s lives – undoubtedly we shall soon reap great
harvest of joy.
These seeds can also be the word of God that we plant in other’s hearts – no
doubt these seeds will germinate through the power of the Holy Spirit and we
will see the fruit of a great harvest right before our eyes!
"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Gal 6:7-10)
