Sowing and Reaping: Proverbs Wisdom for Today

Hi friends! 

I hope the weather is warm where you are; where I am, it is still pretty chilly!  

I have really enjoyed Embracing the Word this month. If you have been following along, we are finished up week three. Proverbs is filled with practical wisdom that provides insight to help us live for God. One of our focus scriptures this past week is Proverbs 15:24: 

The way of life winds upward for the wise, that he may turn away from hell below.

If you’ve read the daily devotional entry for this passage, you’ll find the title is “Level Up.” As I wrote there, “The life of the wise levels up! Those who are wise will make choices with positive consequences and outcomes. They take actionable steps to improve their lives. They plan, execute, reflect, regroup, and restart as much as necessary. They know that many things in life result from our choices. Therefore, the wise make wise choices. Among these choices is the wisest of all–the choice to trust Jesus as Savior.” (You can still get the whole 31-day devotional here.)

Leveling up doesn’t just happen automatically. It is a day-to-day process. A series of wise decisions that lead to a life that pleases God. Paul wrote, to the church at Galatia, if we want to live a life of spiritual freedom, we must sow to the Spirit. 

Galatian 6:8 says, 

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.                                                                                                                

In the previous verse (7), Paul cautions the readers, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” He uses the principle of sowing and reaping to encourage the Galatians to invest time and effort in the right things. All that you say, think, and do are seeds sown. We can sow in two “fields”: the flesh or the Spirit. 

He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption . . . 

In context, Paul is talking to those who were being influenced by Judiazers and those who were struggling with sin. These Galatians were tempted to trust in their own fleshly attempts at righteousness (filthy rags), while others indulged in whatever pleased their flesh. 

Many believers live like this today–taking God’s grace for granted, doing whatever seems good or whatever feels good. Living this way will only yield the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). Do not be deceived! There is only one result–corruption.  

 . . . but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 

Oh, dear friends, we need to sow to the Spirit! Sowing to the Spirit is investing our time and efforts into things that yield a spiritual harvest. We entrust our entire life to God and walk in the power of the Spirit so that we will live fully in His power. And by the strength of the Holy Spirit, our lives will yield the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The result of sowing to the Spirit? Everlasting life!        

Every thought, word, and action is a seed sown either to the flesh or the Spirit. Your life will produce fruit that will be the harvest of where you’ve sown. The fruit of your lives will be the evidence of the seeds you’ve planted. If you live to satisfy your selfish, sinful desires, destruction will be your harvest. But if you sow to the Spirit, from the Spirit, you will receive a great harvest of eternal life. Don’t lose heart when doing the right things! In time, you will reap a harvest of blessings (Galatians 6:9)!  

Let’s Talk

• “Every thought, word, and action is a seed sown either to flesh or the Spirit.” Which field are you sowing into most?  
• What parallels do you see between Proverbs 15:24 and Galatians 6:8? 
• How can you change your ways if you’ve been sowing to the flesh?
• What are some ways you can sow to the Spirit? 

Let’s Pray

Father, 

Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to free us from sin and death. Now that I am saved, I want to live for you. Please help me as I live each day to resist my sinful desires. Help me to recognize when I am sowing to the flesh so that I can amend my ways. It is my desire, Lord, to live for You! Help me, in every word, thought, and action, to sow to the Spirit. Help me to invest efforts in the things that please You and bring You glory. I thank You now for the harvest of blessings I will reap if I do not lose heart. I praise You for the eternal life that You’ve promised me.  

In Jesus’ name, 

Amen