“Whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8)
This is a basic truth in daily life. Job’s friend Eliphaz considered it obvious: “those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.” (Job 4:8) The rest of the book makes clear that his conclusion was too hastily applied to the dramatic events in Job’s life, for Job’s misery was not a result of his iniquity. We should be careful to draw conclusions about other people’s lives.
But the general truth holds and is repeated in the letter to the Galatians: “whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Our present choices and behavior have consequences for our future. If we “sow to our own flesh”, we will reap only earthly reward. That will not last for eternity. It will not bring us any profit when we die. But if we “sow to the Spirit”, we will reap the fruit of the Spirit, which is eternal life. In this world, we might not profit from our “sowing to the Spirit”. It might even damage our career or our social position. But “in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
Are you “sowing to the Spirit”?