Reaping Where We Did Not Sow

Reaping what you sow is a natural and spiritual principle.  Galatians 6:7 says, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap."  We can't expect to harvest vegetables when we planted grass seed, and we should not expect good benefits from sinful choices.  Whilst the context of this passage is a warning against sin, it is entirely possible to reap good benefits from godly actions.  It is written in Hosea 10:12, "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you."  People who don't prefer vegetables are glad of God's mercy.

A deeper look shows the reality isn't always so black and white.  Another principle not often mentioned is seen in scripture:  reaping where you have not sown.  This magnifies the gracious and miraculous nature of our great God.  When God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, He brought them into a land flowing with milk and honey, giving them houses to inhabit they did not build and vineyards they did not plant.  By the grace of God His people received the fruit of fields they did not plant or cultivate.  God promised to provide for His people when they obeyed Him by allowing the fields to lay fallow every seven years.  Leviticus 25:20-21 says, "And if you say, "What shall we eat in the seventh year, since we shall not sow nor gather in our produce?" ²¹ Then I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth produce enough for three years."  There are also cases where God's people would sow but receive little because of their sins.  Micah 6:15 reads, "You shall sow, but not reap; you shall tread the olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil; and make sweet wine, but not drink wine."

In a parable found in Luke 19, Jesus spoke of a nobleman who gave money (a mina) to each of his servants to invest wisely while he was away.  He said, "Keep occupied until I return."  When it was time to settle accounts, one man had gained 10 times the original amount through trading, and another man gained 5.  But there was one servant who decided to hide the money instead of investing it.  Hear what he said in Luke 19:20-22:  "Then another came, saying, 'Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. ²¹ For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.' ²² And he said to him, 'Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow."  If the servant truly feared and honoured his master, he would have obeyed him and invested the money.  It is true principle we reap what we sow, but it is possible to reap where we have not sown, and this is by the grace of God.

Think how many blessing we have received from God we did not deserve!  It is true the receiving of these blessings is connected with our obedience, yet we cannot earn a single blessing God provides of His grace.  Galatians 6:8-9 continues saying, "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. ⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."  God supplies the strength and wisdom we need to accomplish His will, and our salvation is not of our doing:  it is all Christ and His life in us.  We grow weary, but those who wait upon the LORD will find their strength renewed.  These are the edges of God's gracious ways, and blessed is the man who rejoices in Him.