“In due season, we will reap if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 NKJV
“If you do the right things continually, good will follow, in due season.”
Everyone wants an ample return on investment. You give your best effort, place precious resource, spend valuable time, and provide talent and ability in your search for reward. You don’t do all that in order to have less or simply break even; you want to multiply what you have. It is natural to expect reward for your work. In life that is not always the reality, but with God such a multiplied return is certain. The Bible calls that generous return “harvest.”
Harvest is not something that happens randomly, or not at all. Harvest happens because God said that it would. At creation, God established this principle, “while the earth endures, seedtime and harvest will remain.” Genesis 8:22. There are several principles of harvest you will be wise to remember.
The principle of life in the seed. You can be confident of the potential within the seed you sow. God gave seed its power to reproduce and multiply. Why would you bother if you did not think it would matter? Here is what Jesus said about the life created in and from every seed, “A grain of wheat remains no more than a single grain unless it is dropped into the ground and dies. If it does die, then it produces many grains (much fruit).” John 12:24 TEV.
The principle of sowing. Sowing is not easy work, but it is essential; ask the farmer. Seed in storage produces nothing. It has to be sown. Harvest doesn’t come to those who merely want it, or even expect it, or keep seed safely stored. It comes to those who prepare for it, and work for it. “Remember this . . whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each one should give as he has decided in his heart to give.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NIV (See also vs. 8-11). Be warned, the converse of that is also true, “whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly.” Sowing sets the measure of your harvest potential.
The principle of reaping. Be well advised! “Then God said, ‘let there be . . plants bearing seeds according to their own kinds . .’” Genesis 1:12 NIV. The inherent life-potential in every seed is exactly why you need to be wise about the choice of seed you plant. You can’t sow one thing carelessly and expect to reap something else instead. Heed the warning label, “You reap what you sow!” See Galatians 6:7-10 NIV. So, sow what you want to reap! Remember, you cannot sow your wild oats, and then pray for a crop failure; what goes around comes around. “He who sows wickedness reaps trouble . . he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.” Proverbs 22:8/11:18 NIV.
The principle of seasons. The harvest today is from seed sown before, not the seed you sow today. Don’t expect harvest immediately after sowing. “In due season, you will reap . . if you do not give up.” Some people write a tithe check and expect their harvest that week, when they may still be experiencing the harvest from seed sown – or lack of harvest from seed not sown – long before. There is a process and time for a seed’s life to be released. Never stop sowing good seed; never stop reaping great harvests. Read Matthew 13:3-8/18-23. Do the right things continually, good will follow, in due season.
My prayer for you today is to experience the extravagant blessing of life’s good and God’s best.