We Must Reap What We Sow
One of the most powerful Proverbs ever
recorded in the Bible is found in Proverbs 22:8 “He that soweth iniquity shall
reap vanity: ...” As you know whenever you read the words “He
that” in your Bible, you know you are reading words which define and describe
the character of the person. And this Proverb is actually a law of life. Here is the same law found in the Book of
Job. Job 4:8 “Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness,
reap the same.”
We all know it as the law of sowing and reaping. We can only reap what we’ve sown. And here is the same law presented in the NT. Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (8) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
God not only wrote this law down for us, He also provided us clarity both in the world around us and in our own lives. Here’s the law at work in the matter of food. The LORD wrote this law three times and in each case He stated it as a word of warning, implying that we must be careful what we sow because we will reap exactly that.
Please turn in your Bible to II Samuel chapter twelve.
Now, by way of background, here’s what has occurred. First, David has sinned greatly. He has committed adultery with Bathsheba and now taken the life of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband. Further, Bathsheba is now carrying David’s child. She has now mourned over the death of her husband. David decides to take her as his wife.
Second, time passes and the child is born.
Third, God sends His prophet Nathan with a message for King David. II Samuel 12:1 “And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. (2) The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: (3) But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. (4) And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
(5) And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: (6) And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. (7) And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; (8) And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. (9) Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. (10) Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.” Go on to page two
We all know it as the law of sowing and reaping. We can only reap what we’ve sown. And here is the same law presented in the NT. Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (8) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
God not only wrote this law down for us, He also provided us clarity both in the world around us and in our own lives. Here’s the law at work in the matter of food. The LORD wrote this law three times and in each case He stated it as a word of warning, implying that we must be careful what we sow because we will reap exactly that.
Please turn in your Bible to II Samuel chapter twelve.
Now, by way of background, here’s what has occurred. First, David has sinned greatly. He has committed adultery with Bathsheba and now taken the life of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband. Further, Bathsheba is now carrying David’s child. She has now mourned over the death of her husband. David decides to take her as his wife.
Second, time passes and the child is born.
Third, God sends His prophet Nathan with a message for King David. II Samuel 12:1 “And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. (2) The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: (3) But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. (4) And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
(5) And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: (6) And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. (7) And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; (8) And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. (9) Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. (10) Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.” Go on to page two