Reaping What We Sow

It is common place (even for non-believers) to talk about reaping and sowing, and especially in a negative connotation. Let someone do something wrong or mistreat us in anyway. “They will get theirs! You reap what you sow!” Or as the world so loving refers to it as karma.

But you know what sisters, as Believers we should be focused on the good seed we sow and the great harvest we will receive from that. Not the, “I can’t wait until you get yours!”

Some of the best seeds we can sow are love! But it’s not as easy as it sounds. And I say this because in our humanness we have a very skewed conception of what love is, and especially in the English language. Love is used to express lust for someone—you have my love today—wrong me and it’s gone tomorrow. Love is something people fall into and out of at a whim.

But when God tells us to love, it becomes a decision and action.

We think that by buying or giving things we show love, but that is not necessarily love in action. It can be a tactic of manipulation or a ploy to control.

If I give him this, he will love me more. If I buy my kids the expensive things they want, they will do what I ask them to do. If I share with her, she will be a good friend. And then none of it happens the way we had planned. Why? Because our motivation was wrong.

Here’s what the Bible says love is…“⁴ Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. ⁵ It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. ⁶ It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. ⁷ Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].⁸ Love never fails [it never fades nor ends].” I Corinthians 13:4-8a (Amp)

Doesn’t sound like gifts or things has anything to do with love to me. It's a much more deeper and heartfelt situation of obedience. 

But it goes even further…“Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].” I Peter 4:8 (Amp)

Loving the unlovable is hard! But it is not impossible, because Jesus commands us to do it. But, we find it far easier to do for those who love us or when it makes us feel good.

This is the season when you hear a lot of talk about love, but is it really? One could say, “No.” I don’t think running people down when the doors open to a store on Good Friday, is love. Buying hot (stolen) items is not operating in love. Dropping toys off for the less fortunate and posting pictures on Facebook isn’t love. Giving and looking for something in return is also not love. Complaining when people don’t repay us in the way we think they should (not being grateful) is not love.

Truth is…love is practiced.

Love is a discipline.

Love is a commitment.

Love is action.

Love is obedience.

Love is forgiveness.

Love is not a feeling.

Love is not a debt owed.

Love is not something you can buy.

Love is not manipulation.

Love is being able to give your last to help someone in need and looking for nothing in return.

Love is helping to care for a father who raped you for years. Love is helping someone who is mean spirited and thankless. Love is seeing a person who has a need and helping them without telling the world and thinking they owe you. Love is kind, even when we don’t deserve it.

If you are someone who is lonely or doesn’t feel love in your life, I must first ask if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. If not, that is your first step to the greatest love you will ever experience—God’s great agape love. It’s a love that surpasses all human understanding. It’s a love for the forgiveness of our sins and a showering of mercy and grace. None of which we deserve, yet He bestows it generously upon us.

And if you are a Believer, it’s a good time to do a heart check. Are you loving others as God commands us too, or are you still loving like the world, with strings attached and selfish motivations.

Over the years God has blessed me with many people who helped support my ministry. Sending and giving aid to help the women and children in crisis I ministered to—looking for nothing in return. And even now when a call to help a family went out, love stepped up strong. Their lives will be changed and their young faith made stronger. That is what love does. It changes lives.

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” Proverbs 17:17 Look for His repayment, not from those you have helped.

How’s your love walk going? Does your love harvest look like the picture above? Could it use some sprucing up? I know mine can. I don't think we will ever completely get it until the day of Christ, but we must work to make it a daily lifestyle, if we desire to please Him and God.

The world needs to see a little more of the Love of Christ, so they too may believe.

Until next week...

Blessings and Hugs,

Ponnie