Galatians 6:7b “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

This might be one of the most foundational scriptures in the Bible that has significant impact in our life. First let me say that this scripture is not an elusive idea…it is a concrete law that God set in place from the beginning of time. And if we can learn to live by this law we will experience the reward of its benefit.

Let’s break this scripture down…

1. Whatever

I love that the Word says “Whatever.” The implication is that this law applies to every area of life. Finances, relationships, skills, thoughts, etc… It doesn’t matter what area you apply this to it ALWAYS works by law. So if you are faithful to sow your finances in fertile soil you will reap the harvest. This could be sowing your finances into the church, into your gifts, into others, into opportunities, investments, the list goes on and on. Take relationships as well…when you sow your love and faithfulness into a relationship you will reap the reward of a mutual rewarding transaction of love and honor. If you sow your thoughts on the positive things in life you will reap the reward of those thoughts. It doesn’t matter what area of life it is, whatever is all inclusive.

2. A Man

This implies that we are the ones that sow. It is not God’s job to sow it is our responsibility to be intentional about the sowing. We have a part to play on this earth. We are partners with God, not robots. He invited us into His story throughout all HIStory. We are not worthless, bump on a log, meaningless humans. We are God’s hand crafted masterpieces that are responsible to do our part. To just say that if God wants it done He will just do it, can easily become an excuse to be spiritually lazy. Never forget that we were created with a part to play in life and it is our honor to see ourselves as valuable in the eyes of God.

3. Sows

To sow means we have to take something and do something with it. You cannot sow air, it must be real. Talking about something is not necessarily sowing. We have to take what God has given us and do something with it. Too many people want the harvest without investing a seed into the ground. In order to sow you must be willing to sacrifice your seed. This means it takes money to make money, it takes love to get love, it takes great thoughts to get a great attitude. The harvest doesn’t sprout unless we let go of our seed. As my mentor John Maxwell taught me…you have to give up in order to go up. Only when you are willing to take your seed and sow it will you experience the harvest.

4. That

Whatever you sow is what you reap. You cannot plant and apple tree and expect to get oranges. Whatever your seed is that will produce it’s kind. If you sow small, you will reap small. If you sow big, you will reap big. The word that implies that your harvest will be a direct result of that which you have sown. If you don’t like the harvest you are reaping change the seed that you are sowing. If you want a financial harvest you must sow financial seed. If you want a great relationship with your spouse or kids, you must sow the seed of love, forgiveness, and time. If you want a harvest of opportunity, then sow seeds of developing your skills. Your seed will determine the kind of harvest you will get.

5. He Will Also

“He Will” speaks to the law that is obedient to how God set it up. It is a FACT that when you sow you WILL reap. It is not luck, it is not happenstance, it is not blind chance, it is God’s LAW. We need not to question the seeds that we have sown, we need to patiently water until it grows. We cannot control the timing of when the harvest comes, but rest assured it WILL sprout. It is never in vain that we sow. We must stand in faith when we have sown our seed and trust God’s timing of the law. Hold on to the promise that the seed WILL reap a harvest.

6. Reap

Something that most people forget about reaping is that it takes work. Just because you have sown seed does not mean the job is over. When the harvest comes you must recognize it and gather it. Many people think our job is completed when we have sown, but the truth is it has just begun. In order to reap the harvest we must water the seed, keep an eye on the field, and protect it. When the harvest comes in we have to step out and collect the reaping. As we reap what we sow, we have the opportunity to take those seeds and sow them again to create an even greater harvest. Always take a percentage of your reaping and sow it back to ensure you are always reaping and growing into greater things that God wants to use you in.