On Sowing and Reaping ...

Here are a few basic principles concerning sowing and reaping:

1. We reap what we sow. You can't sow hatred and reap love. You can't sow unbelief and reap faith. You can't sow bitterness and reap forgiveness. You can't sow selfishness and reap friendship.

2. Sometimes, we reap what others have sown. Somebody paid the price for the things we enjoy and often take for granted. We have electric lights because Thomas Edison worked through the night. Our family values and traditions were passed along from our parents and grandparents. Every building was constructed at a price. Somebody was willing to pay it.

3. Occasionally, we reap the painful consequences from what others have sown. A choice to drive drunk can shatter a stranger's family. A dishonest employee can bring great dishonor to the business owner. An abusive parent can damage and harm the parent for life. A thief can leave the victim penniless.

4. We reap more than we sow. The mighty oak is just a little nut that held his ground. Small, daily investments bring a tremendous harvest in the end. One seed, planted in good soil, produces a thousand seeds. One good deed planted in God's love, produces a thousand deeds.

5. It usually takes a while between the sowing and the reaping. There is no such thing as instant success. It takes a lifetime. Patience is virtue. Do not be weary in well doing. Sooner or later, what you do will catch up to you – both good and bad. If at first you don't see results, remember that the first growth is underground.

6. The more we sow, the more we grow. Don't just sow a little bit and quit. Keep on sowing and you'll keep on reaping! Sow in the unexpected places, and you will discover unexpected results. It's never too early or too late to start sowing.

An article from Pastor Mark O. Wilson, Hayward, Wisconsin.