Sowing and Reaping of Blessings

Galatians 6:7 KJVS

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

It is no marvel that when it comes to life it is filled with checks and balances. Even when it comes down to the receiving of rewards for one’s labor…You will receive based on what you put in.

You hear people over time talk about what they want or even believe they should receive of The Most High. But don’t get it twisted. At the root, we must all understand that we don’t deserve it.

John 11:49-50 KJVS

And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, [50] Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

Christ had to come and die so we may have a chance to be worthy to have salvation and come back into God's good graces. We can’t act like we just been on point and deserve the world. We were all worthy of death. I mean be honest. Even since you started learning and repenting, have you maintained an “honest to God” track record of excellence? Worthy of a daily or even weekly A+ grade?

Romans 3:23 KJV

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

So now, plug that into your memory bank and it should help you to understand that I don’t deserve many of the good rewards I am asking for or seeking. Just off the top. So now I must understand that I have to put myself in a position to earn it. An awareness and realization that should cause a shift in one’s mindset or perspective.

Luke 18:29-30 KJVS

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, [30] Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

There will be no one who has sacrificed and will not be rewarded due to your sacrifices in righteousness. But that is the key. What sacrifices are you truly making?

Romans 12:1 KJV

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Some things are just part of your reasonable service. I mean think about it. Do you reward a child every time they clean their room? Or even at all, just for cleaning their room? Many would say no. Why? Because they are supposed to keep a clean room, at the least; bare minimum. Understanding that you didn’t go out of your way to do that. First of all, it’s your room! Secondly, you made the mess! You just cleaning up after yourself. But you expect a reward? God be feeling the same way. You supposed to do that. That’s bare minimum but you want all of these blessings.

2 Corinthians 9:6 KJVS

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

You receive what you put in. Minimum effort will yield minimum results. That’s the order and the balance. Life teaches you this. I can’t go to the gym once a year, once a month or even once a week and hope to get in shape, lose weight or gain substantial amounts of muscle or strength. Why? Because it doesn’t work like that. Now don’t get me wrong, if you are coming from nothing but making those improvements. You will see progress over the years from working out once a year, to once a month to once a week. If done progressively year after year. Because of where you started; ground zero. In addition to the progressive overload. But it is going to be very little when compared to someone who exercises regularly. Regularly (for those who don’t know) is starting at three days a week. Topping out at five, rarely six.

Now apply the same concept spiritually. You only fast once a year when it’s mandatory for the Day of Atonement but wonder why you struggle in your spirit. You only give alms when made mandatory and to add to it, it is usually the minimal amount. And to add to it even more, you don’t always give WHAT is asked let alone WHEN it is asked. You give half payments or even miss payments. But you feel God should bless you nevertheless? With what you want and when you want it. Come on now. If the boot fits wear it.

Let’s be real. What is your spiritual report card like? Looking like a C for Alms. D in Charity. F in Fasting, C in righteous application. Need I go on? And you want God to bless you with a spouse? And you want God to bless you with a house? And you want God to bless you with a new job or promotion? And boy let’s not even get started on if you start catching hell. Now it’s too much. When much of it probably is judgement for a lot of the stuff you ain’t doing or what you doing but not supposed to be doing. Well deserved but now you got a problem and usually start doing even less than what you were doing prior. Feeling it to be reasonable, that if God ain’t bless you with this, now you can’t give this or do that and the other.

Galatians 6:9 KJV

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

We be tired of doing right when as soon as we start doing so, things are still going left. When all that time you were giving subpar effort there was no expediency on your part to get your spiritual report card up but the minute you try to apply a little more effort you want a reward. When you just shot up from a D average to a C- but believe God should be showering you with blessings as if you was moving like Job. Job was moving blamelessly before God allowed Satan to take away all he had. Which wasn’t a judgement due to sin but a test and trial of his faith. And Job still remained highly faithful through his trials and tribulations for an extended period of time before he succumbed to his situation. A lot of us be deserving our judgments and be ready to quit the moment it happened. Like your personal stock market crashed. All of your works and alms got worse.

We have to remember that God is always watching us. He sees what we do and what we don’t do. If you get tired of doing the right things the right way, you can cut yourself off from your own blessing. When you could have been a year, a month, a week or even a day away from your blessing. But you stopped a couple of fries short of a happy meal.

1 Kings 21:25-29 KJVS

But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. [26] And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. [27] And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. [28] And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, [29] Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.

Look at Ahab. Hands down the most wicked Israelite king. But God still gave him grace and mercy. You can change God's mind. But that can be for better or for worse. I mean look at Saul. But what side you will be on will be based on you and your actions.

Hebrews 10:35-36 KJVS

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. [36] For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

You have to stay strong even in times of weakness and doubt. Your confidence is your faith in The Most High that he loves you, he cares about you. He sees you and knows what you are going through and as long as you are fighting to be better and do better he will come through…In due season. On his time, not yours.

You have to have patience; long suffering. Knowing first that you have to plant the seeds, water them, keep the weeds away. Make sure it gets plenty of sunshine and rinse, wash, repeat until fruit is produced. But over time it will get easier. But it will still take time.

But know your blessing is coming. You won’t always have the ability to speed it up or slow it down. It will come in due season at the appointed time. You just have to maintain course. Stay focused and you will receive a just reward applicable to the work you have been putting in. And if you don’t like it, that means it’s time to sow abundantly so you can reap abundantly.

Luke 21:19 KJV

In your patience possess ye your souls.