As most of you know, there are many principles in scripture. If you act on them, there is a desired result. There are some principles that are powerful regardless of the condition of the heart. In other words, one may not even be a believer, but that principle works for them. One example is giving. There are successful people and success systems that profess giving to be a integral part of their success stories. This is a facet of the principle of sowing and reaping. It goes by a variety of names and quips, but the end idea is the same; give and it will be given back.
In John chapter four, Yeshua brings out a completely different aspect of sowing and reaping: Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.” [verses 34-38, NKJV]
What Yeshua is putting on the table is the idea that someone will do the task of sowing and we can enjoy the benefit of reaping from their labor. Invert that thought and it reads this way: we could do the task of sowing, and someone else would enjoy the benefit of reaping from our labor. I don’t know about you, but that rankles my understanding of equity; where everything is just, impartial and fair. And indeed, there has been some personal struggles with this level of Kingdom economy. Recently, that struggle has been intensely contesting areas of my heart that deeply need transformation. Yet, Father is faithful to reveal the truth, because He knows it will set us free.
There are two points that will be helpful in getting free. One is found in verse 34: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work.” We need to run the course of our callings and assignments, with an eye toward completion as faithful stewards of the graces we have been given. What we labor at and for, may be the very thing someone else needs to obtain breakthrough, victory or propel them to a new level of understanding. If perhaps you could trust me on this saying: the more difficulty we are having on the issue, it is probably vital to our future and the deepening of our character.
The second point is the encouragement that as a team on any given endeavor, we all receive a reward for our part in the campaign. This is not a new design. You will find an example in 1 Samuel 30:9-25. Verse 36 of John 4 encourages the thought that the one who sows and the one who reaps will experience joy for their part. But first of all, our attitudes need to be leaning in that direction.
During this season between Passover and Pentecost [Pesach and Shavuot], it has historically been a season of sowing. This year the labor and intensity of Fathers’ desire to prepare us for what is ahead, joy has taken some pretty hard hits because the heart is having difficulty seeing what Father is doing. God’s word is trustworthy. Galatians 6:9 says: “And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.” [Amplified]
Prayer: Father, open my eyes to the greater value of Your life in me and the likeness of Yeshua that is being continually formed within for Your glory and benefit. Open my ears that I may hear clearly and obey lovingly in pursuing my place and part in advancing the Kingdom of God. Your benefits and rewards are far beyond anything I can think or imagine. Help me to discern beyond today’s light and momentary difficulties so I can gather fruit for eternal life and the harvest that is ready.