Phyllis
08-20-2004, 06:48 AM
Law 5
"We Reap in Proportion as We Sow"
Galatians 6:7-9 & 2 Corinthians 9:6
Can a farmer plant one acre of crop and reap 100 acres worth? John Lawrence says, "If the farmer only cultivates one acre, he can only reap what one acre can produce."
Today we examine the 5th law of the harvest to the aspect of our "doing." "We reap in proportion as we sow." This law identifies the quantity of the harvest to the proportion that has been sown.
At first glance one might think this law is the same as law 4, "We reap more than you sow." The 4th law can be viewed as "God's part" and the 5th law has to do with "our part" in relations to how we sow.
From this 5th law I want us to glean the, Principled, Preposterous, Provided, and Preventive … Proportions to sowing and reaping.
"What does it mean to be in proportion?"
proˇporˇtion n.
A part considered in relation to the whole.
A relationship between things or parts of things with respect to comparative magnitude, quantity, or degree.
A relationship between quantities such that if one varies then another varies in a manner dependent on the first.
This law, "We reap in proportion as we sow" is a proportional part of all the laws and the magnitude of this law is dependent upon all the laws working together. It is in proportion to all the laws.
"Principled Proportions"
Principles govern our lives. Principles are eternal and fundamental to life. This law like all the others, is based upon the principles found in God's word.
2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
God has set forth two methods of sowing, bountifully and sparingly.
SPARINGLY = stingily
It comes from a root word meaning "to treat leniently". To sow sparingly is not saying we should not be cautious in how and what we sow. But it defines that there are those who are "self-oriented – self righteous – self promoting" thinking little of the needs of others. To which we are warned.
Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
BOUNTIFULLY = blessing
The motivation behind bountifully is not "sow a whole bunch so you can get a whole bunch." It is not the "Have a need? Plant a seed!" philosophy promoted in religious circles.
The motivation and emphasis of this law is to do good and be a blessing. As children of God we are to reflect the character of our heavenly Father, who is loving, kind, and gracious. It is God's nature to give and bless. It should therefore should be our nature (2 Cor 5:17).
The Old Testament affirms the principle of proportional sowing.
Proverbs 11:24-26 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. 25 The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself. 26 The people will curse him who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
Because this law is based upon principles that are eternal it cannot be broken. We can only break ourselves against it.
2 Corinthians 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
To purpose in your heart is to choose. God allows us to choose what we will sow. He asks us to give in a cheerful and hilarious fashion, reflecting His character.
In Luke 6:27-37 we are called to sow in our giving . . .
Love
Goodness
Blessings
Mercy
Forgiveness
In doing so we reap in proportion to what has been sown.
Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
"Preposterous Proportions"
We can choose to disregard the principle but in doing so we merely live the lesser side of the principle. In doing so we become out of proportion.
In this law of doing it is absurd and foolish (preposterous) to think we can plant one seed of corn (sparingly) and harvest bushel upon bushel baskets of corn.
The laws of the harvest assures us we will reap more than we sow because one kernel of corn will produce more than one ear of corn. However it will not produce bushels upon bushel unless we sow bountifully.
I understand planting corn is a simplistic illustration of this law. But the reality of this law fulfills itself in relationships we have with one another, our families, friends, acquaintances, strangers and our God.
In these relationships it is preposterous to think we can sow hatred and indifference and reap love and acceptance. We are out of proportion in thinking this, much like the legs on people in a child's picture.
The Bible warns us not to sow sparingly or grudgingly or out of necessity. It speaks to the spirit in which we sow. Are we compelled by love of God and others, or because we have to?
This law calls us into true accountability not only with one another, but ultimately with our God.
Romans 14:11-13 For it is written: "As I live, says the LORD, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God." 12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
Let us not sow out of a begrudging heart for in doing so we are out of proportion to what God wants in our lives.
"Provided Proportions"
We've already stated that our heavenly Father's nature is to bless and give. Looking into this reality we discover the greatest of provisions from the hand of God.
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, have an abundance for every good work.
God's grace abounds toward us in great measures.
God Provisional Grace . . .
Sufficient
Directive (at you and me)
Abundant
God's Grace Provides . . .
Seed to sow
Multiplication of the seed sown
Increases the fruit of your sowing
While many are trying to manufacture their own seeds, the one who understand the laws of the harvest is busy about sowing the seeds God has provided. We need to be the "sower" who goes out sowing the good seed.
God's Ultimate Provision . . .
2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
God sows bountifully in us the seed of Christ. Through Christ we have the harvest of eternity. God gave the best seed in a cheerful fashion for all mankind to benefit.
Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
The very seeds we sow in righteousness are found not within ourselves, but in Christ whom God gave freely to be a blessing to us in the eternity to come, also in the hear and now.
"Preventive Proportions"
An ounce of prevention is the best medicine. We who know the Lord need to stop the moment we fail to sow the good seed and ask for forgiveness. Preventive medicine is better than emergency surgery!
Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Perhaps we have sown in ways God does not approve. What are we to do? The best advise is God's advise. Listen to it, heed it, and get back to sowing.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls; 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Trust God and sow His seeds and watch the harvest come
God Bless
sister Phyllis
"We Reap in Proportion as We Sow"
Galatians 6:7-9 & 2 Corinthians 9:6
Can a farmer plant one acre of crop and reap 100 acres worth? John Lawrence says, "If the farmer only cultivates one acre, he can only reap what one acre can produce."
Today we examine the 5th law of the harvest to the aspect of our "doing." "We reap in proportion as we sow." This law identifies the quantity of the harvest to the proportion that has been sown.
At first glance one might think this law is the same as law 4, "We reap more than you sow." The 4th law can be viewed as "God's part" and the 5th law has to do with "our part" in relations to how we sow.
From this 5th law I want us to glean the, Principled, Preposterous, Provided, and Preventive … Proportions to sowing and reaping.
"What does it mean to be in proportion?"
proˇporˇtion n.
A part considered in relation to the whole.
A relationship between things or parts of things with respect to comparative magnitude, quantity, or degree.
A relationship between quantities such that if one varies then another varies in a manner dependent on the first.
This law, "We reap in proportion as we sow" is a proportional part of all the laws and the magnitude of this law is dependent upon all the laws working together. It is in proportion to all the laws.
"Principled Proportions"
Principles govern our lives. Principles are eternal and fundamental to life. This law like all the others, is based upon the principles found in God's word.
2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
God has set forth two methods of sowing, bountifully and sparingly.
SPARINGLY = stingily
It comes from a root word meaning "to treat leniently". To sow sparingly is not saying we should not be cautious in how and what we sow. But it defines that there are those who are "self-oriented – self righteous – self promoting" thinking little of the needs of others. To which we are warned.
Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
BOUNTIFULLY = blessing
The motivation behind bountifully is not "sow a whole bunch so you can get a whole bunch." It is not the "Have a need? Plant a seed!" philosophy promoted in religious circles.
The motivation and emphasis of this law is to do good and be a blessing. As children of God we are to reflect the character of our heavenly Father, who is loving, kind, and gracious. It is God's nature to give and bless. It should therefore should be our nature (2 Cor 5:17).
The Old Testament affirms the principle of proportional sowing.
Proverbs 11:24-26 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. 25 The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself. 26 The people will curse him who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
Because this law is based upon principles that are eternal it cannot be broken. We can only break ourselves against it.
2 Corinthians 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
To purpose in your heart is to choose. God allows us to choose what we will sow. He asks us to give in a cheerful and hilarious fashion, reflecting His character.
In Luke 6:27-37 we are called to sow in our giving . . .
Love
Goodness
Blessings
Mercy
Forgiveness
In doing so we reap in proportion to what has been sown.
Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
"Preposterous Proportions"
We can choose to disregard the principle but in doing so we merely live the lesser side of the principle. In doing so we become out of proportion.
In this law of doing it is absurd and foolish (preposterous) to think we can plant one seed of corn (sparingly) and harvest bushel upon bushel baskets of corn.
The laws of the harvest assures us we will reap more than we sow because one kernel of corn will produce more than one ear of corn. However it will not produce bushels upon bushel unless we sow bountifully.
I understand planting corn is a simplistic illustration of this law. But the reality of this law fulfills itself in relationships we have with one another, our families, friends, acquaintances, strangers and our God.
In these relationships it is preposterous to think we can sow hatred and indifference and reap love and acceptance. We are out of proportion in thinking this, much like the legs on people in a child's picture.
The Bible warns us not to sow sparingly or grudgingly or out of necessity. It speaks to the spirit in which we sow. Are we compelled by love of God and others, or because we have to?
This law calls us into true accountability not only with one another, but ultimately with our God.
Romans 14:11-13 For it is written: "As I live, says the LORD, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God." 12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
Let us not sow out of a begrudging heart for in doing so we are out of proportion to what God wants in our lives.
"Provided Proportions"
We've already stated that our heavenly Father's nature is to bless and give. Looking into this reality we discover the greatest of provisions from the hand of God.
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, have an abundance for every good work.
God's grace abounds toward us in great measures.
God Provisional Grace . . .
Sufficient
Directive (at you and me)
Abundant
God's Grace Provides . . .
Seed to sow
Multiplication of the seed sown
Increases the fruit of your sowing
While many are trying to manufacture their own seeds, the one who understand the laws of the harvest is busy about sowing the seeds God has provided. We need to be the "sower" who goes out sowing the good seed.
God's Ultimate Provision . . .
2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
God sows bountifully in us the seed of Christ. Through Christ we have the harvest of eternity. God gave the best seed in a cheerful fashion for all mankind to benefit.
Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
The very seeds we sow in righteousness are found not within ourselves, but in Christ whom God gave freely to be a blessing to us in the eternity to come, also in the hear and now.
"Preventive Proportions"
An ounce of prevention is the best medicine. We who know the Lord need to stop the moment we fail to sow the good seed and ask for forgiveness. Preventive medicine is better than emergency surgery!
Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Perhaps we have sown in ways God does not approve. What are we to do? The best advise is God's advise. Listen to it, heed it, and get back to sowing.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls; 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Trust God and sow His seeds and watch the harvest come
God Bless
sister Phyllis