Planting Seeds

Galatians 6:7-10
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

This passage makes a lot of sense in the context of the society we live in. When it comes to studying, you can be foolish and not study and reap failure in all of your classes. There are consequences for our actions. If we continue to live in our sin, we will reap the consequences of sin. When planting a seed, you don't see immediate growth. It takes him to cultivate and nurture the seed to become a plant. In the same way, whatever seeds we are planting take time to grow. Seeds of the sinful nature are fueled by an indulgence in sin. However, if we are continually living by the Spirit (Gal 5:16), we will one day reap the benefits of following Christ, eternal life.

We have a choice: who do we follow? Do we follow our own desires or listen to those of God? Regardless of which one we choose, the truth will prevail and we will reap the consequences of our decision. Sometimes we get snubbed for doing good. Loving others requires sacrifice on our part. Maybe it means studying less for an exam and getting a lower grade than you could have gotten. Sometimes it means staying up late with a person to talk to them when they need a friend to talk to. Sometimes it means driving out of your way to pick someone up even though you don't want to. It may require giving up our rights as humans, like giving up partying or not partaking in malicious gossip even if everything you are saying is true. Sacrificial love is the same kind that Jesus showed, a love that desires the best for those around Him even at His own expense. It may hurt now and it may cost us, but hold on. Our reward is much greater than the sum of our daily problems. Our reward is eternal life with our Creator.